The Cibāl region from the Islamic conquests to the Būyids

This study aims to examine the political, administrative, religious, ethnic, and economic structure of the Jibal region from the Islamic conquests up to the 10th century, through a city-centered approach. Following the Battle of Nihavand (21/642), the region came under Muslim control, and major cities such as Hamadan, Rayy, Isfahan, Qazvin, Hulwan, Kermanshah, Qom, and Kashan were incorporated into the Islamic administration. These cities subsequently underwent significant transformations in terms of administrative organization, social structure, and sectarian composition. The thesis evaluates not only the political developments of these urban centers but also their ethnic diversity, religious groups, economic activities, and architectural features, based on the accounts of classical Islamic historians and geographers as well as modern academic literature. The research reveals that Jibal was more than just a military and administrative region; it functioned as a crucial hub of trade, cultural interaction, and sectarian dynamics in the early Islamic world. Especially after the weakening of central authority during the post-Abbâsîd period, the region came under the control of local dynasties such as the Buyids, which further enhanced the historical and socio-political dynamism of Jibal, turning its cities into prominent regional power centers. Keywords: Islam, Jibâl, Sasanian, Hulefâ-yi Rashidîn, Umayyads, Abbâsîds