부산대학교 도서관

[Sīrāf; now Tāherī] Medieval city on the Gulf coast of Iran, 240 km south-east of Bushire. From the 9th century to the 11th, Siraf was the largest and finest port in Iran, but the city declined when maritime trade shifted to other ports in the 12th century, despite a brief revival in the 14th and 15th centuries. Siraf prospered because of the expansion of Islamic rule in the east, the revival of the economies of Iraq and Iran after the Abbasid dynasty (reg 749–1258) came to power and increased sea trade between Gulf ports and those of Arabia, East Africa, India and China. Despite torrid summers, poor soil and low rainfall, the city enjoyed two natural advantages over nearby coastal settlements: a sheltered bay to protect ships from storms and a relatively easy caravan route to the Iranian plateau. The site already existed in the Sasanian period (ad 226–645). Pre-Islamic remains include a cliff-top citadel, a fort with features that recall Roman frontier fortifications of the 4th century ...