The evolution of the physical-spatial structure of Yazd city and the factors affecting it

The physical structure of a city can be influenced by many factors, such as environmental, economic, social, political and schools of thought, and urban patterns of the world. The city's physical-spatial structure is the result of all the forces that give rise to the formation of a settlement, with objective and subjective impressions. The growth and development of cities has been declining and rising due to various events in all historical periods. Today, knowledge of the spatial structure of the city and the reasons that dominate its spatial expansion in different periods is necessary to control its expansion. The physical-spatial structure of the city of Yazd, developed during the historical periods according to the climatic, social and economic characteristics of its time, has evolved since the 1300s onwards due to numerous reasons. As Yazd city in ancient times, with its compact model, benefited from this social, economic and environmental benefits, it gradually shifted away from this pattern in spite of the expansion of the city. The aim of this paper is to identify the factors affecting the spatial structure of cities in order to identify and analyze the historical trend of the city of Yazd and determine the factors affecting it during this special evolution period through the descriptive-analytical and historical research method and utilizing qualitative descriptive analysis. The results of this research show that at first natural factors, especially climatic conditions, were the most influential factors on the growth and development of Yazd city, But in the following periods, social, economic, political and especially intellectual dominant currents have had a profound effect on the changes in the city's physical-spatial structure.