The Role of Government in Shaping the Spatial Structure of Isfahan City during the Safavid Period

The spatial structure of cities has been one of the influential elements in the development of cities in different periods. In the cities of Iran, the spatial structure of cities is sometimes organic and during the lifetime of cities, based on the requirements of the times, such as sociosocial needs and their religious-religious ideology, and in many cases, this structure is based on programs and government plans of that period. Understanding the spatial structure of the city, its relationship with the power and influence of power transformation on the spatial structure transformation can lead to a better understanding of the factors affecting urban development, especially on the spatial structure of cities in Iran. In this article, the study of the city of Isfahan during various governorates, especially the Safavid government has been attempted to assess the role of power (governance) in the physical organization of the city. Also, with descriptive approach and historical analysis, based on written sources and field surveys, it is attempted to investigate the influence of governing power on the spatial structure of the city of Isfahan and its developmental trends during its capital city and its effects on the spatial structure of the city today. The results of this study indicate that the spatial structure of cities, where it was carried out with the planning of powerful governments, and often carried out by elites and government agents, has played a significant role in the development of cities, and not only in the period but also during the subsequent periods has always maintained its role as the main foundation of the city.