The Sasanian Empire: Map & History
The Neo-Persian superpower and great rival of Rome and Byzantium, elevating Persian art, cataphract heavy cavalry, and Zoroastrian statecraft.
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The Sasanian Empire, officially Eranshahr, was an Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651 AD. Lasting for over four centuries, the length of the Sasanian dynasty's reign over ancient Iran was second only to that of the Arsacid dynasty of Parthia which immediately preceded it.
Modern Countries Once Part of The Sasanian Empire
At its mapped extent, The Sasanian Empire covered territory in 24 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Iraq238–637 CE · nearly all
- Tajikistan260–357 CE · nearly all
- Armenia260–637 CE · nearly all
- Kuwait238–633 CE · nearly all
- Bahrain238–629 CE · nearly all
- Qatar238–632 CE · nearly all
- Iran215–643 CE · nearly all
- Azerbaijan260–637 CE · most
- Egypt623–628 CE · most
- Syria260–633 CE · most
- Yemen602–632 CE · most
- Jordan617–628 CE · most
- Lebanon617–626 CE · most
- Turkmenistan238–643 CE · most
- Afghanistan238–643 CE · most
- United Arab Emirates238–632 CE · most
- Palestine617–628 CE · most
- Georgia260–637 CE · most
- Israel617–628 CE · most
- Uzbekistan238–386 CE · most
- Turkey260–643 CE · a large part
- Oman238–632 CE · a large part
- Pakistan238–643 CE · a large part
- Saudi Arabia238–632 CE · a large part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside The Sasanian Empire's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
The Sasanian Empire in Depth
History
Conflicting accounts shroud the details of the fall of the Parthian Empire and subsequent rise of the Sasanian Empire in mystery. The Sasanian Empire was established in Estakhr by Ardashir I.
Ardashir's father, Papak, was originally the ruler of a region called Khir. However, by 200, Papak had managed to overthrow Gochihr and appoint himself the new ruler of the Bazrangids. Papak's mother, Rodhagh, was the daughter of the provincial governor of Pars. Papak and his eldest son Shapur managed to expand their power over all of Pars. Subsequent events are unclear due to the elusive nature of the sources. It is certain that following the death of Papak, Ardashir, the governor of Darabgerd, became involved in a power struggle with his elder brother Shapur.
Government
The Sasanians established an empire roughly within the frontiers achieved by the Parthian Arsacids, with the capital at Ctesiphon in the Asoristan province. In administering this empire, Sassanid rulers took the title of shahanshah (King of Kings), becoming the central overlords and also assumed guardianship of the sacred fire, the symbol of the national religion. This symbol is explicit on Sasanian coins where the reigning monarch, with his crown and regalia of office, appears on the obverse, backed by the sacred fire, the symbol of the national religion, on the coin's reverse. Sassanid queens had the title of banbishnan banbishn (Queen of Queens).
Economy
Due to the majority of the inhabitants being of peasant stock, the Sasanian economy relied on farming and agriculture, Khuzestan and Iraq being the most important provinces for it. The Nahrawan Canal is one of the greatest examples of Sasanian irrigation systems, and many of these things can still be found in Iran. The mountains of the Sasanian state were used for lumbering by the nomads of the region, and the centralized nature of the Sasanian state allowed it to impose taxes on the nomads and inhabitants of the mountains. During the reign of Khosrow I, further land was brought under centralized administration.
Two trade routes were used during the Sasanian period: one in the north, the famous Silk Route, and one less prominent route on the southern Sasanian coast.
Culture
There was a major school, called the Grand School, in the capital. In the beginning, only 50 students were allowed to study at the Grand School. In less than 100 years, enrollment at the Grand School was over 30,000 students.
On a lower level, Sasanian society was divided into Azatan (freemen). The Azatan formed a large low-aristocracy of low-level administrators, mostly living on small estates. The Azatan provided the cavalry backbone of the Sasanian army.
The Sasanian kings were patrons of letters and philosophy.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sasanian Empire (CC BY-SA 4.0).
The Sasanian Empire: Key Facts
| Capitals | Istakhr, Ctesiphon |
|---|---|
| Official languages | Middle Persian, Parthian, Koine Greek, Aramaic |
| Religion | Zoroastrianism |
| Form of government | feudal monarchy, monarchy |
| Founded | 224 CE |
| Dissolved | 651 CE |
Preceded by
- Kingdom of Persia
- Parthian Empire
- Elymais
Succeeded by
- Rashidun Caliphate
- Qarinvand dynasty
- Zarmihrids
- Dabuyid dynasty
- Masmughans of Damavand
- Bavand dynasty
Facts from Wikidata Q83891 (CC0).
Sasanian Empire Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which The Sasanian Empire appears, with the other states of the time.
Imperial History & Territorial Expansion
Founded in 224 CE by Ardashir I after overthrowing the Parthians, the Sasanian Empire revived Iranian national identity under the name Ērānshahr. Ruling from the colossal brick-vaulted palace of Taq Kasra in Ctesiphon, the Sasanians checked Roman legions—famously capturing Emperor Valerian alive under Shapur I. Sasanian culture represented the zenith of ancient Iranian civilization, pioneering heavy armored cataphracts, complex hydraulic qanats, and the Academy of Gondeshapur.
Sasanian Empire Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Ardashir I defeats Artabanus IV and crowns himself Shahanshah.
Shapur I defeats Roman Emperor Valerian, commemorating the victory on rock reliefs at Naqsh-e Rostam.
Golden Age of taxation, law, and establishment of the Academy of Gondeshapur.
Sasanian armies capture Jerusalem, Egypt, and reach the walls of Constantinople.
Key Monarchs, Architects & Strategists
Enduring Planetary Legacy
- ✓The Arch of Ctesiphon (Taq Kasra), the largest single-span unreinforced brick vault in the world
- ✓The Academy of Gondeshapur, the premier medical and scientific intellectual center of late antiquity
- ✓Development of armored shock cavalry (Savaran / Cataphracts) that influenced medieval European knights
- ✓Sasanian textile and metalworking styles that deeply influenced Byzantine, Islamic, and Chinese Tang arts
Sasanian Empire: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sasanian Empire exist?
The Sasanian Empire is dated to 224 CE – 651 CE (Peak: 620 CE), in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Sasanian Empire?
The capital of the Sasanian Empire was Ctesiphon (Taq Kasra), Istakhr.
How large was the Sasanian Empire at its peak?
At its peak in 620 AD the Sasanian Empire covered about 3,500,000 km².
How did the map of the Sasanian Empire change over time?
The Sasanian Empire appears on 4 dated world maps in the atlas, from 300 CE to 600 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.