The Consistency of the Architectural Style of Yazd in the 14th Century with References to the Ilkhanids and Muzaffarids Schools

The Consistency of the Architectural Style of Yazd in the 14th Century with References to the Ilkhanids and Muzaffarids Schools

Abstract

Muzaffarids were among the rulers of Iran in the 14th century AD, who ruled over different parts of Iran, especially the central plateau of the country. Among the public buildings, which were built during this period, there were schools and especially religious schools (seminaries). Some of these buildings have been lost with the passage of time, and so far no specific research has been done in connection with the detailed knowledge of the architectural model of these schools, which will be an introduction to the knowledge of the Yazd architectural style. The main aim of this research is to analyze the architecture of this period based on the evidences and remains from the three perspectives of "structural-physical", "construction technology" and "decorations" that appeared after the Mongol periods. This historical research has been done by inductive case study method and by describing and analyzing the physical evidence left from Muzaffarids time in Yazd and citing historical and indirect sources. The cultural, social and civic influences of this family was very impressive in a short period of time which is one of the most important periods of Iran, when the Iranian city-state was formed for the first time after the conquest of this land by Turks, Mongols and foreigners. Muzaffarids founded an initial consistency and fortune in the construction of public facilities, including schools. The results of the research show that despite the short life of the Muzaffarids era and the internal conflicts as well as threats of Tamerlane, after the restoration of the structural measures, there was a kind of continuity in constructing many buildings and cultural and social activities, it was time to recognize the lost identity which has been destroyed overs centuries. This revival and its subsequent continuation has remained alive and dynamic by correcting its process and simultaneously with the revival of the Iranian government in the post-Ilkhanid era. This issue reached its peak through the large number and variety of public buildings and other cultural activities such as illustration and painting words as well as the copying of mystical, religious, scientific and philosophical texts and especially the copying of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh. In addition to the above, the architectural model of the schools of this era was also influenced by the cultural and social conditions of the time. This research concludes that almost all of schools have domes with decorative motives, especially with long-lasting colors and pigments, as well as precision in the implementation of geometric decorations with a special aesthetic in terms of practical geometry, volume and variety. Due to the high attention of the leaders, designers and architects of the Muzaffarids era, the field for their creativity has been well prepared. Therefore, despite the not very balanced political situation of the era, the balance in the behavior of the rulers in the direction of the welfare of the general public and especially the people of science was such that about a hundred schools were continuously active during this era and became a model for the construction process that followed.

Keywords: architectural pattern; 14th century AD schools; Ilkhanids; Muzaffarids; The Consistency of the Architectural Style of Yazd