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Khorasan[khOr´´usAn´] Pronunciation Key or Khurasan[koor´´usAn´] Pronunciation Key, province (1991 pop. 6,013,200), c.125,000 sq mi (323,750 sq km), NE Iran. Mashhad is the capital and chief city; other cities include Sabzevar, Bojnurd, and Neyshabur. It is mainly mountainous and arid. Products include agricultural goods, refined sugar, textiles, carpets, turquoise, and wool. Khorasan was occupied by the Arabs in the mid-7th cent., and Abu Muslim began (8th cent.) his campaign against the Umayyads there. The province contributed to the power of the early Abbasid caliphs. Khorasan was devastated by the Oghuz Turks in 1153 and 1157 and by the Mongols from 1220 to 1222. Timur invaded in 1383. An earthquake devastated the province in 1997.
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