The Changes in Etymology and Semantics of Rūsta and RustaÎ in the Islamic Period up to the Seventh Century AH.

Subject Areas : The Journal of Islamic History and Civilisation

الهام امینی کاشانی ¹ (ندارد)
قنبر علی رودگر ² (ندارد)

Received: 2012-12-17 Accepted : 2013-02-23 Published : 2013-02-19

Keywords: Rūsta, RustaÎ, Dih, Administrative divisions,

Abstract :

Amongst the terms which Muslim geographers have borrowed fromPersian, is "Rustaq " that has used in two forms; Rustaq and Rusta.Although in order to the same etymological roots and apparentresemblance, it was supposed that Rustaq and Rusta had the samemeaning in the texts , these two words rarely have the same meaningsand implications. Generally, Rustaq and Rusta are two geographicalindependent units. Rusta was supposed to be used as Dih orQerya(village) whereas, Rustaq referred to a unit larger than a city,and it was mostly like modern town Dihestan