Hossein Habibi is an Assistant Professor at the Archaeology Department of the University of Jiroft and a former Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH), the University of Edinburgh. The book is based on his research project at this institute and is his first book. He has published a number of journal articles and chapters and has other publications forthcoming.

• List of Illustrations List of Tables Preface and Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations 1. Introduction. A Regional Examination of the Central Zagros during Late Antiquity 2. The Historical Geography of the Central Zagros 3. A System at the Edge of Chaos: Abdanan in the Sasanian Period 4. Pastoral Nomadism in the Iranian Highlands during Late Antiquity: The Case of Farsan 5. The Sasanian Pottery from the Central Zagros: Interactive Local Traditions 6. Conclusion. The Multifaceted Landscape of the Central Zagros during the Sasanian Period and its Socioeconomic Transformation Appendix 1. List of the Archaeological Sites Examined in Chapter 3 Appendix 2. List of the Archaeological Sites Examined in Chapter 4 Appendix 3. Catalogues of the Pottery Specimens Examined in Chapter 5 Bibliography

The Sasanian Empire rivalled the Roman state in prosperity and military might. An impressively thorough survey of the Central Zagros in Western Iran allows Hossein Habibi to explain this success story. He demonstrates that investment in agricultural lands and population growth on a micro-level underpinned imperial power on a macro-level.