The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Evolution of Spatial Organization in Historic Shushtar (From the Advent of Islam to the Pre-Safavid Era)

https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2025.540540.5875
Volume 22, Issue 151
January 2026
Pages 35-46
The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Arezou Afsharbagheri 1
Ali Omranipoor 2, 3
Mohsen vafamehr 4

1 Department of Architecture, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture and Arts, University of Kashan, Iran

4 Member of the academic staff of Islamic Azad University, Mashhad branch

Abstract
Problem statement: The historic city of Shushtar was shaped by water before the Islamic era, with the river serving as a natural foundation that supported the formation of religious, economic, political, and ecological values alongside human needs and activities. With the advent of Islam and the influence of religious traditions, however, the city transformed its urban spatial organization. This study explores how the natural element of water and the river, in combination with built structures and human activities such as agriculture and water-related practices, together with historical processes, influenced the Spatial Organization of the city.
Research objective: This study aims to investigate the factors and components that defined the Spatial Organization of the city from the advent of Islam to the pre-Safavid era, to achieve a clearer understanding of its structure and internal order.
Research method: This study applies a historical–interpretive approach, using documents, records, and historical evidence to trace the events and conditions that shaped Shushtar from the Islamic era to the pre-Safavid period. Through the narration and interpretation of history, it reconstructs the Spatial Organization of the city during this phase. To reinforce this analysis, the research also draws on interviews with heritage custodians, field observations, and validation measures.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that water continued to act as a limiting, shaping, and reinforcing factor in the city’s urban spatial organization. In contrast to the pre-Islamic period, when religious values and beliefs contributed to fragmentation in the residential quarters, the Islamic era saw the congregational mosque, although initially separated from the residential area, gradually foster integration. Over time, not only the residential quarter but also the city’s economic center aligned with the religious core. Owing to the city’s governability, the political–administrative order, and the primacy of religious values, Shushtar, shaped by its natural setting, developed needs and ecological practices distinct from those of the pre-Islamic era.

Keywords

Shushtar
Historic city
Islamic period
Spatial organization
Transformation process.
ad-Dīnawarī, A. H. (2004). al-Aẖbār al-ṭiwāl [Long news]. Nashre Ney. 
Afsharbagheri, A., Omranipour, A., & Vafamehr, M. (2025). An exploration of the pre-Islamic spatial organization evolution within the historic city of Shushtar. MANZAR, The Scientific Journal of Landscape, 17(70), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.22034/manzar.2024.477793.2312 
Ahmadi Siahpoush, A., Ahmadi, A. A., & Shateri, M. (2020). The process of formation and transformation of the physical-spatial structure of Shushtar in the Sassanid era and the period of transition from Sassanid to Islamic. Journal of Iran›s Pre-Islamic Archaeological Essays, 5(1), 133–150. https://iaej.sku.ac.ir/article_10211.html?lang=en 
Ahmadi, A., & Ahmadi Siahpoush, A. (2021). Physical transformations in the tomb of Imamzadeh Abdullah in Shushtar: A manifestation of Iranian architecture in the transition from the Seljuk-Khwarezmshahi period to the Ilkhanate period. Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism, 12(2), 171–187. https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2020.215617.1342 
Al-Salim, K. H. (2021). Philosophy of spatial organization: The holy city case study. Journal of Humanities and Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), 26(1), 17–27. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382276061_Philosophy_of_Spatial_Organization_the_Holy_City_Case_Study
Asadipour, H., & Valiarab, M. (2022). شوشترنامه (پژوهشی پیرامون تاریخ سیاسی اجتماعی شوشتر)  [Shushtarnameh: A study on the socio-political history of Shushtar]. Miras-e Mandegar [Enduring Legacy]. [in Persian]
Baladhuri, A. (1985). History of the Arab invasions: The conquest of the lands: A new translation of al-Baladhuri›s Futuh al-Buldan (A. Azarnoush, Trans.). Iranian Cultural Foundation Publications.
Bal›ami, A. J. M. (1974). Tarikhnama (M. T. Bahar, Ed.; Vol. 2). Tabesh.
Enayatollah, R., Course, Gh., Imam Shushtari, M., & Entezami, A. (1971). آب و فن آبیاری در ایران باستان [Water and irrigation technology in Ancient Iran]. Sherkat-e Sahami-ye Chap [Joint Stock Printing Company]. [in Persian]
Hamawi, Y. b. (2001). Mu›jam ul-Buldān (A. N. Munzavi, Trans.; Vol. 4). Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization. 
Ibn al-Athir, A. A. (1992). The complete history (A. Khalili, Trans.). Elmi. (Original work published 628)
Ibn Battuta, M. B. A. (1997). The Travels of Ibn Battuta (M. A. Movahed, Trans.). Sepehr Naqsh.
Ibn Chaldūn, A. A.. (1964). Kitab al-Ibar (A. M. Ayati, Trans.). Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies.
Imam Shushtari, M, A. (1952). تاریخ جغرافیایی خوزستان [The Geographical History of Khuzestan]. Amir Kabir Publishers. [in Persian]
Jalali Azizian, H. (1995). ش‍ه‍رس‍ت‍ان‌ ت‍ص‍وف‌: زن‍دگ‍ی‌ س‍ه‍ل‌ب‍ن‌ ع‍ب‍دال‍ل‍ه‌ ش‍وش‍ت‍ری‌ [Shahrestan Sufism: The Simple Life of Abdullah Shushtari]. Hadis. [in Persian]
Jazayeri Shushtari, S. A. (2009). تذکرۀ شوشتر [Shushtar Passport] (M. Kadkhoda-ye Tarahi, Ed.). Tarava. [in Persian]
Kashef Dezfuli, S. S. (2020). Selection treaties and manuscript books of sufism and spiritual sciences. Armaghan-e Tarikh [The Gift of History]. 
Khal›atbari, E., & Sharafi, M. (2010). The history of kharazm- shahs. Samt Press.
Khaledian, S., Karimian, H., Pour Ahmad, A., & Mazaherian, H. (2017). The spatial pattern of Iranian old cities in the transition from the Sassanid to the Islamic period. Journal of Archaeological Studies, 8(2), 35–51. https://doi.org/10.22059/jarcs.2017.61724 
Lashkari, A., Sharifi Nia, A., & Mohajervatan, S. (2014).  بررسی و مطالعه معماری و شهرسازی آوه در دورۀ ایلخانیان [A study of the architecture and urbanism of Aveh during the Ilkhanid period]. Journal of Iranian Architecture & Urbanism, 5, 1–20. [in Persian] https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2015.61989
Layard, A. H. (1997). Early Adventures in Persia, Susiana, and Babylonia: Including a Residence among the Bakhtiyari and Other Wild Tribes before the Discovery of Nineveh (M. Amiri, Trans). Anzan. (Original work published 1887)
Mansouri, S. (2007). The spatial organization of Iranian city in two periods: Before and after Islam based on the evidences of Kerman city evolution. The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar, 4(7), 50–60. https://www.bagh-sj.com/article_67.html 
Mansouri, S. A. & Dizani, E. (2016). Evolution of the spatial system in the city of Qazvin (4th-19th A.D.). Nazar Research Center.  
Mansouri, S. A., & Hemmati, M. (2021). An evaluation of Persian-speaking researchers’ description and interpretations of the spatial organization of cities. The Monthly Scientific Journal Bagh-e Nazar, 17(92), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.22034/bagh.2020.214720.4421 
Mansouri, S. A., Mokhles, F., Hemmati, M., Abarghuifard, H., & Mohammadzadeh, Sh. (2020). The spatial system of Iranian City in the Islamic Period. Nazar Research Center. 
Mansouri, S., & Mohammadzadeh, S. (2018). The changes of Tabriz spatial organization from early Islamic era to Gajar era. The Monthly Scientific Journal Bagh-e Nazar, 14(51), 21–32. https://www.bagh-sj.com/article_49425.html 
Mansouri,S. A. (2013). The spatial system in the Islamic City of Iran. Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient, 1(1), 51-62. https://www.jaco-sj.com/article_3691.html?lang=en 
Masoudi Nejad, R. (2022). A comparative study of social and retail bazaars: Investigating the historical bazaars of Dezful and Shushtar as retail bazaars. Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies, 5(10), 73–100. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_111770.html?lang=en 
Mirahmadi, A. (2022). بررسی تحول نقش مناره در مساجد ایرانی- اسلامی [A study of the transformation of the role of minarets in Iranian–Islamic mosques]. Islamic Architecture, 5(24), 28–38. [in Persian] https://memarishenasi.ir/fa/archive.php?rid=26  
Moghaddam, A. (2012). A note on the Gargar Irrigation System. Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies, 2(2), 37-49. https://doi.org/10.22111/ijas.2014.1523 
Mohammadmoradi, A., & Jafarpour Naser, S. (2014). بررسی روند توسعۀ شهری طی شهرسازی ایلخانی با تحلیلی بر توسعۀ شهری تبریز [Evaluating the trend of urban development in Ilkhanid urbanism: An analysis of the development of the city of Tabriz]. Journal of Iranian Architecture and Urbanism, (6), 89–102.  [in persian] https://doi.org/10.30475/isau.2014.61977Mousavi Shushtari, S. N. (in press). خاتمۀ کتاب [End of the book]. In A. Chaharmahali (Ed.), Faeq al-Bayan [Faeq al-Bayan]. Entesharat-e Miras-e Farhangi [Cultural Heritage Publications]. [in Persian]
Muqaddasi, A. (1982). Descriptio imperii moslemici (A.N. Monzavi, Trans.). Sherkat-e Moa’lefan va Motearjeman Iran [Iran Authors and Translators Company]. (Original work published 1877)
Noghrekar, A., Kaynejad, M. A., & Belali Oskui, A. (2022). Spatial structures of the Ilkhanate governed cities known as the greatness pathways. Journal of Iranian Architecture Studies, 1(2), 47–63. https://jias.kashanu.ac.ir/article_111701.html?lang=en 
Pourahmad, A., & Pourahmad, A. (2014). ساخت فضایی شهر در ایران قبل و بعد از اسلام [Urban space construction in Iran before and after Islam]. Journal Sustainable City, 1(1), 21–36. https://sl1nk.com/Sn3ij [in Persian]
Rahimiyeh, F., & Rabubi, M. (1977).  شناخت شهر و مسکن بومی در ایران، اقلیم گرم و نیمه‌مرطوب دزفول و شوشتر [Understanding the city and local housing in Iran, the hot and semi-humid climate of Dezful and Shushtar]. Anjoman-e Daneshjoyan-e University of Tehran [University of Tehran Student Association]. [in persian] 
Rawlinson, H. K. (1983). Notes on a March From Zahab to the foot of Zagros, alongThe Mountain of khuzistan, (Susiana) and from Thence ThroughThe Province of Luristan To Kermanshah in The Year 1836 (S. Amanollahi, Trans.). Agah. (Original work published 1836)
Razavi, A. F. (2009). ساختار زندگی شهری ایران دورۀ اسلامی  [The structure of urban life in Iran during the Islamic period]. Ketab-e Mah-e Tarikh va Joghrafiya [Monthly Book of History and Geography], (134), 2–17. [in Persian] https://sl1nk.com/dlXjt Razpoush, Sh. (2021). صفویان (تاریخ سیاسی)ت  [Safavids (Political History)]. In Encyclopedia of the Islamic World (Vol. 29; pp. 721-732). The EncyclopaediaIslamica Foundation. https://sl1nk.com/wtVKF [in Persian] 
Salehi, S., Khazai, M., & Ahmadpanah, S. A. (2021). The structure and visual characteristics of Kufic inscriptions Imamzadeh Abdullah Shoushtar. Glory of Art (Jelve-y Honar), Alzahra Scientific Quarterly Journal, 12(4), 74–85. https://doi.org/10.22051/jjh.2020.28997.1475 
Sarfraz, A. A., & Teimoury, M. (2013). Describing the spatial organization of Bishapur city based on archeological findings. Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient, 1(1), 9–16. https://www.jaco-sj.com/article_3686.html 
Sharafuddin, M. M. (2023). تاریخ شوشتر [History of Shushtar]. Miras-e Mandegar [Enduring Legacy]. [in Persian]
Shushtari, Gh. N. (1975). Majalis al-mumin. Eslamiyeh. 
Shushtari, M. ʿA. (1984). تحفه‌العالم و ذیل التحفه [The Masterpiece of the World and the Appendix of the Masterpiece] (S. Movahed, Ed.). Tahouri. [in Persian]
Soltanzadeh, H. (2016). Situation of Jameh mosques and their relationship with other important spaces in historical cities. Human Geography Research, 48(2), 363–376. https://doi.org/10.22059/jhgr.2016.55524 
Yousefi Far, Sh. (2007). The spreading patterns of Iranian towns in middle ages. Farhang, Vizhe-ye Tarikh [Culture, Special for History], 18(56), 217-261. https://www.sid.ir/paper/88230/fa#downloadbottom [in Persian]
Zekavat, K. (2012). Spatial Organization in Urban Design. Soffeh, 21(3), 107-122. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100357.html 
Zekavat, K. (2012). Spatial organization in urban design. Soffeh, 21(3), 107-122. https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100357.html?lang=en 

Home

Submit Manuscript

Contact Us