From the 7th century, Islam spread rapidly, expanding Arab identity in the region. The Seljuk dynasty displaced Arab dominance in the 11th century, followed by the Mongol Empire in the 13th century.

The Seljuk rulers (1038-1194) added two iwans to the north, while the Safavid dynasty (1501-1732) contributed the southern and western iwans, along with arcades. The Qajar period (1779-1924) saw ...