An Analysis of the Forming Factors, Function, and Significance of Castles and Fortresses of Koureh Arrajan from Early Islam to the End of Seljuq Dynasty

The strategic position of Koureh Arrajan located in South-Western Iran during the Sassanian Dynasty until the end of Seljuq Dynasty led to the establishment of many castles in the region. This study chiefly aims at analyzing the historical castles of Koureh Arrajan in order to shed light on their status and roles in the political-administrative geology, factors effective in their formation and spread, as well as realizing the location of geopolitical and geo-strategic passages and zones of the region. This study is founded on the hypothesis that given the geographical position of Koureh Arrajan and its association with Persian Gulf's seaports and the governmental centers of Fars and Isfahan, the region enjoyed a coherent system of castles and fortresses. The results of this descriptive-analytical study were obtained using historical sources and archeological field research. Location analysis of the spread of the castles show that connecting straits, natural gerdkuhs, mountain valleys, and the region's mounds have had a considerable effect on their location-allocation. The multi-functionality of the fortifications of this koureh has manifested itself in various aspects such as protecting the environmental resources, agriculture-related structures, protecting centers of population, and communication paths. Studying these forts is highly important in explicating critical issues such as appreciating the network of Isma'ili castles.