Caucasus

In the sixteenth century, the strategic region of the Caucasus had a set of political, economic, transportation, and religious benefits for both the Safavid and Ottoman governments that led the two powers to compete for profound influence and attention in the region. During this period, when some weak and unstable kings such as Ismail II and Muhammad Khudābanda came to power, lack of strength and better performance caused the Ottoman government to grasp the most of the opportunity to extend their influence over the Caucasus. This study aims at investigating the geographical location of the Caucasus considering the Safavid diplomatic policies and the challenges between the Safavids and the Ottoman Empire through analyzing historical data and library studies. Descriptive data analysis has been considered as the method utilized for this research. The research findings indicate that the ineffectiveness of Safavid foreign policy at this time and the consequence of this policy would have an inevitably negative impact on maintaining and controlling the Caucasus. As a result, this policy would provoke the Ottoman invasions, leading to the occupation of some parts of the Caucasus.

Central Asian and Caucasian countries are among the countries that have faced numerous ups and downs in the process of nation-building, and they are currently facing various challenges, particularly in the geopolitical arena. Since nation-building is a process greatly influenced by a country's historical roots and events, Central Asian and Caucasian countries have unique coordinates despite sharing a part of history. This article examines the nation-building process in Central Asian and Caucasian countries through a comparative approach. It focuses on the practical geopolitical challenges of nation-building in these two regions. The study findings indicate that Due to differences in the social context, historical processes, and geopolitical features, Central Asia and the Caucasus countries have gone through two different patterns of nation formation. In particular, Central Asian countries face significant geopolitical challenges during this process. 

Historically, the Caucasus region during the Sasanian period was among the important parts of Iran. Many studies have been conducted by archeologists, historians, and linguists on this region. The book entitled Middle Persian Inscriptions of the Era of Khosrow Anushirvan in Darband, Caucasus (Dagestan) by Cyrus Nasrollahzadeh is one of the attempts to investigate this region through available inscriptions. 

Rome and Persia in Late Antiquity: Neighbors and Rivals is more than just a history of wars; it opens new windows and challenges some of the most common views regarding Roman-Persian relations. By emphasizing Iranian sources, Beate Dignas and Engelbert Winter avoid reconstructing historical events from a Roman point of view and instead present a balanced outlook free of common anti-oriental prejudices. Their work covers a wide range of topics and explains how the Romans and Persians despite many wars attempted to secure their national interests via channels of negotiations and complex diplomacy. The Roman-Persian rivalry seems “modern” in many respects and this character of their relation is nicely demonstrated in this book.  

Jewelry has been prevalent in human societies since ancient times. By studying these artifacts and analyzing the decorative styles and techniques employed in their creation, researchers can gain insights into the identities of the people who produced them. Archaeological excavations in Jubon cemetery in Gilan province have uncovered numerous Gurkani graves dating from the first millennium BC to the Sassanid period. Some of these graves were found gold earrings, now kept in the National Museum of Iran. This research aims to classify earrings found in the Juban cemetery and compare them with those from the North Caucasus to identify their manufacturing techniques and production workshops. The study employs a descriptive-analytical method with a comparative approach. The findings indicate that the earrings from the Jubon cemetery can be classified into two typological categories: The first type is gold earrings without precious stones and the second is gold earrings adorned with garnet decorations. The identified manufacturing techniques include relief, casting, hammering, inlaying, and wiring, which were prevalent among Greek and Scythian artisans during the Parthian period. The methods used in making Jubon earrings show similarities to earrings from the North Caucasus, but significant differences in the decoration of gold indicate local production.