Aran va Bidgol in historical sources

The city Aran va Bidgol, located in a county with the same name, is actually the combination result of two cities of Aran and Bidgol in recent decades. Since centuries ago, this city has been a main residential, economic, and cultural center of Kashan region. Some descriptions of the city and its relating areas, such as Haraskan, are mentioned in sources of Islamic first centuries like the books Tarikh -e- Qom (history of Qom) and Zikr -e- akhbar -e- Isbahan (mentioning narratives of Isfahan). In addition, Ravandi's Qasida Nuniyya contains some information about the city in Seljuq period. In the sources of Ilkhanate era, the hamlets Bidgol and Haraskan are alluded to. In Safavid era, Aran va Bidgol considerably prospered and thousands of SharBafi (hair-weaving) workshops were set up in it; the significance of this city in Safavid era is reflected in some travel books and ritual documents of this period. A description of Aran va Bidgol in Zand era may be seen at treatise of Sharh -e- ahval -e- Molla Ali Arani (biography of Molla Ali Arani). Furthermore, the situation of the city in Qajar period is represented in Tarikh -e- Kashan (history of Kashan; written by Zarrabi), Kayfiyat -e- Balada va Bolukat -e- Kashan (state of districts and areas of Kashan), and a fascinating book about geography of Bidgol, titled as Chiraqan (lighting). Generally speaking, this article is a preliminary endeavor to acquire the historical identity of Aran va Bidgol.