Many important past and contemporary Iranian personalities have emerged from this region. Here is a brief list of some of the most famous people of ancient Greater Khorasan Territory:

Abul Qasim Ferdowsi Toosi aka Ferdowsi (c. 940-1020)

is the author of the Shahnameh or Epic of Kings and was born in Toos. Visitors can visithis mausoleum and Museum dedicated to him in Toos. His Shahnameh is renowned as the largest poem written by one person and it consists of ancient Iranian fables from the me of creation to the 7th century. By penning this Epic, Ferdowsi is credited for revitalizing the Persian language. Interestingly, the fables of Shahnameh have greatly influencedwestern literature like the story of Rapunzel.

Khajeh Rabe'i

Historians agree that Khajeh Rabe’i assisted Imam Ali (PBUH) in the battle of Siffin with 4,000 troops. He migrated to this region in ca. 35 AH/ 657 CE and spent the rest of his life here. When he passed away (61 or 63 AH/681 or 683 CE) a magnificent mausoleum was built in the middle of a beautiful garden that is now a part of the local cemetery.

Khāje Abasalt Heravi

Based on Islamic historical sources Abol Salām bin Sāleh bin Solemān Ayyoub bin Mysareh is also known as Khāje Abasalt Heravi. He was a scientist, narrator of narrations, and preacher born ca. 160 AH/777 CE in Medina. He followed Imam Reza (PBUH) to this area and became one of his closest companions. Khāje Abasalt Heravi was responsible for recording the history of Imam Reza (PBUH) and his martyrdom. Some historians claim that he was at the side of the Imam when he passed away. Then after the death of the Holy Imam (PBUH), he isolated himself due to the intense political pressure of the time. He passed away in 232 AH/847 CE based on documentation written by Baghdadi; however, based on ibn Toghrah he died in 236 AH/851 CE. His mausoleum, which has become part of the local cemetery, is located 10 km to the east of Mashhad on the Mashhad-Fareeman Road.

Abu Ali Hasan ibn Ali Toosi aka Nizam al-Mulk (1018-1092 CE)

was a Seljuk vizier and scholar who was born in Toos. He is well-known for establishing higher learning institutes for Islamic sciences and penning the "Book of Government", which was about justice, and government rule and its role.

Abu Ḥamid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ghazali aka Imam Ghazali (c.1058–1111 )

was born in Tabaran district of Toos, where his tomb was recently discovered. He was a highly regarded Iranian Sunni philosopher, theologian, jurist, and mystic. His tomb receives many pilgrims through the year.

Abu Jafar Mohammad ibn Hasan Toosi aka Shiekh Toosi or Sheikh al-Ta'ifah (995-1067)

was a prominent Shi'a law interpreter born in Toos and he has a long, distinguished record of accomplishments in Islamic Sciences and is credited for the establishment of the Najaf Seminary.

Abu Nasr Abdullah ibn Ali as-Sarraj (d. 988)

was a well-regarded Sufi mystic and historian born in Toos and a world traveler. He penned the history book documenting the early years of Sufism called "The Book of Light" and "The Book of Light Flashes on Sufism", which established the sect as a religious discipline.

Jabir ibn Hayyan

was born in Toos and buried in Kufa, Iraq. He was an Iranian polymathic scholar and his knowledge has greatly influenced - not only eastern - but western early alchemy and chemistry.

Mohammad ibn Mohammad ibn al-Hasan al-Toos aka Nasir al-Din al-Toosi (1201-1274 CE)

was also from this area and is the founder of trigonometry. He was a medieval polymathic scholar, physician, scientist, philosopher, architect, and theologian.

Nader Shah (1688-1747 CE)

established the Afshar dynasty, and ruled from 1736 to 1747 CE. Born into a Turkish tribe in 1688, he became head of an army that restored the throne to Shah Tahmasb II. After the Shah’s death, he disposed of the new shah and declared himself king. Some historians refer to Nader Shah as the Napoleon of Iran because he extended the Iranian borders from northern India to the Caucasus Mountains in Russia. Mashhad was the seat of his government and he had a summer palace commissioned in the nearby town of Kalāt. Although he belonged to the Sunni sect, he was a great patron of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) and sponsored many of the Holy Shrine's renovation projects.