Fars is the ancient cradle of the Persian Empire. Human settlement in the region dates back to prehistoric times, but the area rose to prominence with the arrival of the Indo-Iranian tribes (the Persians) in the 10th century BC. Prior to their arrival, the region was heavily influenced by the Elamite civilization.
In the 6th century BC, Cyrus the Great established the Achaemenid Empire, the largest empire the ancient world had seen, founding his capital at Pasargadae. His successors, notably Darius the Great, built the grand ceremonial capital of Persepolis, whose towering columns and intricate bas-reliefs remain a marvel today. The empire fell to Alexander the Great in 330 BC, who looted and burned Persepolis.
Fars re-emerged as the center of a world power in the 3rd century AD when Ardashir I founded the Sassanid Empire, ruling from his circular city of Gur (modern Firuzabad) and later Bishapur. Following the Arab Islamic conquest in the 7th century, the region embraced Islam while fiercely retaining its Persian linguistic and cultural identity.
In the 18th century, Karim Khan Zand made Shiraz the capital of Iran, ushering in an era of peace, architectural restoration, and economic prosperity. In modern times, Fars has evolved into a vital economic and cultural pillar of the Islamic Republic of Iran, balancing rapid urban development with the preservation of its unparalleled heritage.
