Rab-e Rashidi, the world’s first university campus in the shape of a town, is the most visible example of Ilkhan reformers’ efforts in Iranian culture’s excellence and growth within Ghazan Khani’s framework. Rab-e Rashidi is the first and largest multi-lingual university in human sciences culture.
Rashid al-Din Fazlallah Hamadani, founded the of Rab-e Rashidi in the 7-8th century AH on the slopes of Sorkhab Mountain. The scientist and minister of the Ilkhani era, relying on his scientific past, brought together great scholars from all over the world and founded a university that has been based on every knowledge branches.
The square structure and four faculties in its corners caused called the Rab-e Rashidi for this scientific complex. The arbae complex consists of a mosque, a school, a hospital, a library, a dormitory, an Orphanage, a guest bathroom, high schools, industrial workshops and a dome for the Sheikh’s tomb, which reached the main street of the city after the city’s bazaar. Rashidabad had a baro and two inner and outer gates which was called “bob al-abawab”.
The complex has three main parts built by Azari method, including Rab-e Rashidi, Rashidi suburb (Residential Complex and Secondary Facilities), Rabz Rashidi (High levels residential).
The current academic expenses of 6,000 students, 400 jurisprudents, 200 Qari Quran from Kufa and Basra and Sham, 50 physicians and several surgeons from India and Egypt were funded by the Sheikh’s personal successor in various parts of Iran.
The cost of students, the library and the completion of the largest voluntary, scientific and educational complex Was provided with income from Sheikh’s dedications from his Property , including 24caravansary , 1500 markets, 300 ,000 residential houses, baths, gardens, mill , weaving and paper factories, Dar al-Zarb (mint)And paint factories.
The Spanish traveler, Ruy González de Clavijo, has mentioned Rab-e rashidi as the largest and most spectacular building of its era. Also, the Russian historian Ilya Pavlovich Petrushevsky wrote about this great building: ” Legates was sent all the provinces of India, china and … to bring some seeds .They gathered all types of fruit trees ,flowers and legumes which not found in Tabriz, and nobody saw them from all over the world and planting trees and nesting.”
However; that huge scientific building collapsed with the death of its founder. The king, under the influence of malice, despite of the great services of Shikh to the court of Ghazan Khan and Iran was ordered his murder. After his death, Rab-e Rashidi and its scientific and historical grandeur were also plundered and destroyed.
The reign of the 4 dynasty passed over the borders of Iran. And none of them respected to Rashdieh. Shah Abbas Safavi ordered the reconstruction of the complex, but the other Safavies did not pay much attention to this issue.Ruin continued until as far as we can say, there are no architectural sing on the soil. In the excavations, number of the tiles of Azeri style architecture have been found in the area, but can be claimed that what is now in the area of the Rab-e Rashidi remains the fortress of Safavi , which has been constructed against the Osmani attack and it combined with the materials of the Rabi-e Rashidi, Shanbe Ghazan and the historical cemeteries of Tabriz, which collapsed on the ruins of the Rab-e Rashidi due to the historic Tabriz earthquakes.
The ruins of the Safavid castle have also been plundered by the people to build and restored residential houses around, insofar as the tower was completely destroyed and instead, houses were built.
The area of Rab-e Rashidi or Rashidieh was registered in 1975. The historical site was established in 2002 and archaeological exploration continues.
