Persian Carpets Were First Woven At The Time Of The First Persian Empire
No one knows precisely when and where the technique of weaving first started, but there is no doubt that weaving, in general, started in Central Asia — most of which was part of the first Persian Empire. Ancient Persia was a vast empire that provided the modern world with not only history but also art, architecture, culture—and Persian rugs! .
Persian rugs were known to be being made by nomadic tribes, as far back as the Medo-Persian Empire (also known as the Achaemenid Empire) founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BCE — if not before. The Empire covered a vast area, including parts of modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Central Asia and the Indus Valley, making it one of the largest empires in history until It fell to Alexander the Great in 330 BCE.
The First Persian Empire, also known as The Achaemenid Empire originated in what we now call Iran, and lasted from 550 until circa 330 BC and was the largest empire ever known—larger than both the Roman and Ottoman Empires which followed. The Persian Empire’s contributions were critical for the development of civilizations in other parts of the world. While much remains unknown about the empire, the evidence we do have shows that the Persians were technologically advanced for their time and had a diverse and vibrant culture.
This ancient civilization was a very well-developed and fascinating nation in terms of culture and history. It was during the reign of Cyrus the Great of Persia, King of Kings, that Persian carpet weaving amongst the nomadic tribes of the region is believed to have begun. When Cyrus’s tomb was discovered, it was found to be strewn with many priceless rugs.
The First Persian Empire ruled over almost a half of the world’s population
In 480 BC, the population of the Persian Empire was 50 million, which at the time was almost half of the world’s entire population—the highest for any empire in the history of the world—and covering all of Anatolia, at the point where the continents of Asia and Europe meet, and where the biggest empires ever seen originated.
From the beginnings of civilisation Anatolia has been a crossroads for nomadic people migrating to & from each continent, helping to spread the knowledge of carpet weaving througout the Empire. The video above charts the history of the region from 1550 BC and shows the vast extent of the Persian Empire—at the 3-minute mark in 500 BC—until 334 BC when Alexander the Great conquered Persia.
Historically, Persia was a rich tapestry of diverse tribal groups, each with its unique cultural identity, deeply reflected in their rug-making traditions. Notable among the tribes were the Qashqai, Bakhtiari, and Turkoman. Weaving across the ages can be categorised based on the region of origin. Each with its own distinct flavour, techniques, designs and materials that contribute to the rich tapestry of both Persian and other Oriental rugs.