Reconstructing the conditions of the rise and fall of Shahdad's ancient civilization with an emphasis on natural and human factors

Sheikhshariatikermani, Behnaz; Ghazanfarpour, Hossein; Pourkhosravani, Mohsen; Karimi, Sadegh

doi:10.22103/jic.2022.20246.1131

Reconstructing the conditions of the rise and fall of Shahdad's ancient civilization with an emphasis on natural and human factors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ PhD student, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Yazd University

² ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

³ Associate Professor and faculty member of the Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman

⁴ Associate Professor of Hydrology and Meteorology and faculty member of Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman

10.22103/jic.2022.20246.1131

Abstract

Shahdad (with the old name of Khabis), is a hot and dry region located on the western edge of the Lot plain. This region itself has been a part of a rich and relatively wide culture that has grown and developed and interacted with far and near civilizations. The purpose of this research is to identify the natural and human factors on the formation and decay of Shahdad's ancient civilization. The method used in this research is a descriptive-analytical one, which was done using documentary and archeological data and reconstruction of the past environmental conditions in the studied area. Reconstruction of the past environmental conditions was done using field evidence, experimental relationships with the help of ArcGIS software. The results obtained from this research showed that the height above the sea level, the geographical location, the absence of extremely hot or cold weather, the increase in precipitation, the increase in river water, are the most important. Natural factors have been effective in the formation of Shahdad civilization. . . Temperature fluctuations, torrential rains, flooding of rivers and floods were the most important natural factors affecting the decline of this civilization. Agriculture, the location of Souq-al-Jashi and two-way communication with neighboring nations have also been the most important human factors influencing the formation of Shahdad civilization. On the other hand, the decline of agriculture, the loss of the communication location of Souq-Al-Jashi, the disconnection with neighboring nations and civilizations were the most important human factors affecting the decline of Shahdad civilization.

Keywords