Survey on motifs of trees in the carpets of Iran and India.

As a branch of Iranian art, carpet and carpet weaving have a rich and long history. This is proved by the fact that the oldest discovered samples of this valuable art have estimated to date back to the Achaemenid Empire. It is mentioned that, some tools related to carpet weaving before this period have been found in archaeological discoveries which seem to belong to the Bronze Age. As to the most flourishing period of Iranian carpet weaving and designing patterns, historical documents have mentioned a time period in safavid Dynasty as the golden age of Iranian art of carpet weaving. This art found its way to neighboring countries such as India through various relationships, and this exchange took place in Safavid Iran and Moghul India. This research is an attempt to examine the motif of tree in Iranian and Indian carpets during the mentioned period. Introducing of visual features, depicted in the motifs of trees in Iranian carpets and central India based on cultural and ideological roots of both countries, is the main purpose of this research.