Herat

HERAT, fortified town in Afghanistan on the Hari River, 550 km west of Kabul, population approximately 50 000. It is located in a plain 835 m above sea level. The main public buildings are the citadel, several mosques and bazaars and the palace of the khan. The main items of trade are saffron and asafœtida. Carpet, coat, hat and garment workshops and factories.
– Herat is a place of great military and commercial importance, as commanding the north-west road to India, and as the place where shawls, calico, chiffon, indigo, and other goods from India and Afghanistan are exchanged for products from China, Russia, Tartary and Persia.
– When the family of Futteh Khan triumphed over that of Zemann Shah in Afghanistan, Herat remained in the hands of the brother of the latter. In 1837-38, he resisted the Persians. In 1855, Prince Yusuf proclaimed himself leader, as vassal of Persia. He favoured the Russian government and opposed the English influence. He was driven away by Esa Khan, who seized the city. The Persians then laid siege to Herat and took it on October 26 1856, which caused the war between Persia and England. By the Treaty of Tehran (14 April 1857), the Shah renounced its claims on Herat, which was taken by the emir of Kabul in 1863.
 
Extract from the Trousset encyclopedia, 1886 – 1891.