Located in northern Iran stands a monumental fortification that utterly dwarfs Hadrian’s Wall: the Great Wall of Gorgan. Although it lacks the popular renown of its Roman counterpart, this vast structure has been described as one of the most sophisticated and ambitious frontier walls ever constructed, and arguably the largest single defensive wall in history. This article examines the historical circumstances that gave rise to the Great Wall of Gorgan, before exploring how the Sassanians built and operated this remarkable defensive system. It will then turn to the strategic considerations that ultimately led to the wall’s construction.

Sailing up the Tigris from the south, one of the many great spectacles that awaited ancient travellers was the awe-inspiring sight of Aššur’s ziggurat, visible from far away, arising atop a 40 meter high cliff that dominated the landscape. This structure was the ultimate proof of the Assyrians’ dedication to their patron god, who not only embodied the synonymous city of Aššur, but also represented the power of the Assyrian empire itself. Who was this Aššur? How was he envisaged by his worshippers and what importance did he carry for them? As we shall see momentarily, this proves to be a much harder question than one might expect.

In her first article for Along the Silk Road on Persian miniature painting, Dr. Shadabeh Azizpour discusses Kamal al-Din Behzād. Master Kamal al-Din Behzād (1456–1535) was one of the most prominent painters (naqqāshs) active in the artistic circles of Herat and Tabriz during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, under the Timurid and Safavid dynasties.

In his article, Yonghyup Oh chronicles the famed Tang invasions of Korea during the seventh century and places them in a wider historical perspective, paying particular attention to their consequences for East Asian history.

This article shall explore the evolution of the garden from the Achaemenian (6th- 4th centuries BCE) to the Sassanian (3rdcentury BCE-7th century CE) empires. It will delve into how the Great Kings of Iran infused political and religious ideology with arboricultural, horticultural and artistic innovation. Finally, we shall observe how thousands of years of Persian tradition would be taken up and spread across the world in the wake of conquest and cultural renewal, shaping not only the garden but the very notion of an earthly paradise across Eurasia.

Dominating the western Taurus Mountains, the archaeological site of Sagalassos rises at an altitude of about 1,500 meters. Tracing its origins back to prehistoric times, the town managed to weather numerous upheavals and regime changes up to the Middle Ages, offering modern archaeologists a remarkable wealth of material for understanding the ancient history of Anatolia.

When Sennacherib ascended the throne in 705 BCE, a wave of revolts swept across the Assyrian Empire, most notably in the Levant, where King Hezekiah of Judah dared to defy the formidable Assyrians. Resolute in his determination to reassert imperial authority, Sennacherib set out to subdue the rebellious lands. Yet before he could turn his attention to Jerusalem, he first had to force his way through a succession of adversaries who awaited him along the road to Judah’s capital. Among these stood the fortified stronghold of Lachish—proud, defiant, and seemingly impregnable. But the resourceful Assyrians conceived a stratagem that at last brought about the city’s fall.

History is filled with stories of last stands, of small forces engaging an enemy many times their strength for one reason or another. Arguably the most famous last stand took place at Thermopylae where, in 480 BCE, a force of seven thousand Greeks faced off against Xerxes’ army for three days before being overwhelmed. Although it is most certainly a momentous event in history, a very similar military encounter would occur over a century later. This battle contains all of the elements that make last stands such compelling stories. A small force faced off against a much large opponent, desperate to buy the time needed to save their world from destruction, with displays of incredible bravery as well as ingenuity on both sides. And yet, even with all these elements, this battle is rarely remembered alongside the other great last stands of history. This article will go through this story and aims to give it the attention it deserves.

Although lamented for its initial cruelty, the Mongol Empire soon became a textbook example of religious tolerance. Focusing on the Ilkhanate—the western portion of the empire—Ethan Zelko-Yılmaz places this tolerance in context by discussing the Mongols’ Tengrist religious background and the practical nature of their policy.

In his essay, Joshua Nudell challenges the characterization of the Ionian city-states as outposts of Western civilization, arguing that such a view overlooks their profound indebtedness and connections to Anatolia and beyond.