Art, literature & culture

Construction of Naqsh-e Jahan Square

1595

Naqsh-e Jahan Square, also called Imam Square, is a large public square in the centre of Isfahan, Iran, built under the Safavid ruler Shah Abbas I after he moved his capital to the city. The name means Image of the World. It is surrounded by two-storey arcades of shops and by major monuments: the Shah Mosque, also known as the Imam Mosque, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the Ali Qapu Palace and the entrance to the Qaisariyeh Bazaar. The square was used for markets, celebrations and polo matches. It is a masterpiece of Persian Islamic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 16th century.