East Azerbaijan

Province in northwestern Îran, and part of the larger historical region known as Azarbaijan. The larger region was governed by Urartu and Media civilizations, and in 4th century BCE it was taken over by Alexander the Great and ruled by a Greek general, Atropates. In the 3rd century CE, the Persian Sassanian dynasty lost it to the Arabs (7th century CE) and then to the Mongols (13th century CE). During World War I the Turks took control of the region of Azarbaijan and passed it down to the Soviet Union. The Iranians and the Turks fought over Azarbaijan until Nadir Shah of Iran forced the Turks out of the country (1740s). The Iranians eventually regained control when the Soviet withdrew. Currently, Tabriz is one of the larges cities in Azarbaijan-e Sharqi.