Abstract:
Like other well-organized powers of the ancient world, the
Sasanian kingdom was able to define its borders, mostly
based on natural barriers and cultural characteristics. The
Sassanids gave this vast area a cultural identity and called it
Iranshahr. However, in the ancient world, primitive tribes and
powerful neighboring states did not always respect these
borders and often sought to exploit the wealth within them.
To create a secure island among their enemies, the Sasanian
constructed numerous large defensive structures along the
borders of Iranshahr. The main focus of this research is to
investigate the defense structures used by the Sasanian to
protect their territory. This article employs a descriptive
method to examine all the border defense structures of the
Sasanian Empire through written sources and archaeological
findings.
Machine summary:
Sasanians, borders, defensive wall, fortress, fortified city Date received: 18/07/1403 Date accepted: 24/07/14031- PhD student in Ancient Iranian History, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, Aminbabadi69@ut.
" Different extents have been defined for Iranshahr in various sources, but generally, the broad definition of "from the Oxus to the Euphrates" can be considered the common denominator of reports of the sources, which included the Iranian plateau, the Caucasus, and Mesopotamia, and was limited to natural borders such as the Indus River, the Oxus River, the Euphrates River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Persian Gulf, and Makran (for various definitions of Iranshahr in the sources, see: the inscription of Shapur I on the Kaaba of Zoroaster in Aryan, 1392: 70; the text of the cities of Iranshahr in Daryayi, 1388: 37-42; the Letter of Tansar, 1354: 89; Bundahishn, 1395: 133-135; the introduction of the Shahnameh of Abu Mansuri in Qazvini, 1332: 49; Qudama ibn Ja'far, 1370: 109; Ibn Rusta, 1365: 119, 121; Mutahhar ibn Tahir al-Maqdisi, 1374: 591; Ibn Faqih al-Hamadani, 1349: 10-11).
According to the report of Ibn Rusta, after Khosrow realized that the Arabs were looting this region on Iran's borders, he proceeded to build a rampart around the city of "Alus" and then ordered the digging of a moat that passed through the desert, reached the city of Kazima near future Basra, and joined the sea; and then "alongside - Recent research shows the construction time of Darial Castle or the Alanian Gate to be between the years 390 and 430 AD, and it is possible that this castle was built after the Hun invasion of the Caucasus during the time of Bahram IV: (Labbaf-Khaniki, 1400: 190).
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