Tabriz
or TABREEZ (the ancient Tauris), a city of Persia, capital of the province of Azerbijan, on the Aigi, 36 miles above its entrance into Lake Urumia. It lies at the inner extremity of an amphitheater, about 4,000 feet above sea-level, with hills on three sides, and an extensive plain on the fourth.
It is surrounded with a wall of sun-dried brick, with bastions, and entered by 7 or 8 gates. There are numerous mosques, bazaars, baths, and caravanserais. The citadel, originally a mosque, and 600 years old, was converted by Abbas Mirza into an arsenal. The blue mosque dates from the 15th century. Tabriz has manufactures of silks, cottons, carpets, leather and leather goods, etc. It is the great emporium for the trade of Persia on the W., and has an extensive commerce. Exports and imports annually over $100,000,000. In the World War it was occupied first by the Turks and then by the Russians. It has frequently suffered from earthquakes. Pop. about 200,000.