subject: The Importance Of Persian Rugs In History [print this page] The Persian Empire, also referred to as the Achaemenid Empire, spanned parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe. At its peak, the Persian Empire was the largest empire in recorded history. Known to exist circa 550 to 330 BCE, the Persian Empire is credited with the creation of many culturally rich artistic works, including antique Persian carpets. Historically, Persian rugs turned simple weavers into wealthy artists, and created an ongoing trade income for the region.
It was during the Zoroasterian period, around the 5th century BCE, that wool and silk woven Persian rugs became extremely popular with rulers and royalty. But antique Persian rugs also have historical importance for religious reasons. The 8th century AD saw the rise of Islam, and Persian carpets were put to a new use. Whereas the courts had preferred large, room sized rugs, practicing Islamists needed smaller, more portable carpets for use as prayer mats. During this part in Persian rug history, the rug designs began to incorporate design elements from varying regions. Scrolling vines, medallions, and figural designs became particularly prevalent. Figural designs were popular with people in Islamic regions then. This preference hasn't changed much, and more Persian rugs with figural designs exist in Iran than are exported elsewhere in the world.
Hand and loom weaving are still prevalent methods of creating Persian rugs, though mechanized manufacturing turns out more, and less expensive rugs than does hand creation. However, hand weaving developed differently in different regions of Persia, and many people still pass down this knowledge to their children as a means of preserving historical culture. It is generally believed that modern Persian rugs are not as strong as antique Persian rugs, though many of the hand weaving processes are the same that have been used for thousands of years. The change in quality is thought to be related to the quality of the raw materials available. Where special sheep were once raised to produce superior wool for use in the carpets, that practice is rare in modern times.
Antique Persian rugs are often sought for their beauty, but they are a rich part of history. The art of creating quality wool and silk, hand woven rugs is responsible for bringing much ongoing wealth to the Persian region. Even small villages with few resources are able to continue to thrive because Persian rugs are a lucrative export. When shopping for an antique Persian rug, consider more than the designconsider the history it has helped to create.
