Ancient Isfahan was part of Elamite empire. Under the name of Aspandana it became one of the principal towns of Median dynasty, when Iranian Medes settled there. Subsequently the province became part of Achaemenid Empire and after liberation of Iran from Macedonian occupation by the Arsacids, it became part of Parthian Empire. Isfahan was the centre and capital city of a wide province, which was administered by Arsacid governors. In Sassanid era, Isfahan was governed by "Espoohrans" or the members of seven noble Iranian families who had important royal positions, it played a residential role for these noble families as well. Moreover, in this period Isfahan was a military centre with strong fortifications. This city was occupied by Arabs after final defeat of Iranians.

Isfahan, like other cities of Iran, fell under the rule of Arabs until the Abbasid era, only being attended to by al-Mansour. In the 10th century, under the Buwayhid Dynasty, Isfahan regained its importance. In the reign of Malik Shah I of the Seljuk dyansty, Isfahan was again selected as capital and commenced another golden age. In this period, Isfahan was one of the most thriving and important cities of the world. The famous Iranian philosopher Avicenna lived and taught there in the 11th century.

This city was raided and massacred by The Mongols in the 13th century, followed by Timur in 1387. However, as the result of its suitable geographic situation, Isfahan flourished again especially in Safavid time, which developed considerably.

The Golden Age of Isfahan arrived in the 16th century under Shah Abbas the Great (1587-1629), who made it the new capital of the Safavid dynasty. During the reign of Shah Abbas I, who unified Persia, Isfahan reached its pinnacle of briskness. Isfahan had parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who had not seen anything like this at home. The Persians called it Nesf-e-Jahan, half the world.