Herat, city, northwestern Afghanistan, capital of Herat Province, on the Harirud. Herat is thought to have been founded in the 4th century BC by Alexander the Great. In the 7th century AD the city was captured by Muslims. The Turkic conqueror Tamerlane made it his capital in 1381, and it subsequently became a center of Persian art and learning. The Afghans captured Herat in 1749. Principal architectural features of the city are the old city walls and gates, Islamic tombs, and the Friday Mosque. The city is a trading center for the grain, fruit, vegetables, and sheep of the surrounding area. Population (1988 estimate) 177,300.
