Understanding Our Common History
The history of Iranshahr is rich and complex. In the last 150 years, we have been brainwashed with nationalistic history by authoritarian regimes that survive by dividing us from one another. We have to restore those linkages between peoples. The first step is to rediscover our collective past and how intermingled and connected our ancestors were, regardless of different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Here are some resources to help you move beyond nationalist histories.
Persianate Selves: Memories of Place and Origin Before Nationalism by Mana Kia
The Persianate World: Rethinking a Shared Sphere by Abbas Amanat & Assef Ashraf
The Persianate World: The Frontiers of a Eurasian Lingua Franca by Nile Green
Literacy in the Persianate World: Writing and the Social Order by Brian Spooner (Editor),William L. Hanaway (Editor)
War and Peace in Qajar Persia: Implications Past and Present by Roxane Farmanfarmaian
Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia by M. Rahim Shayegan
The Aura Of Kings: Legitimacy And Divine Sanction In Iranian Kingship by Abolala Soudavar
Continuity in Iranian Identity: Resilience of a Cultural Heritage by Fereshteh Davaran
Mystics, Monarchs, and Messiahs: Cultural Landscapes of Early Modern Iran by Kathryn Babayan
The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia by Peter Hopkirk
Tribes and State Formation in the Middle East by Philip S. Khoury (editor)
The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane by Beatrice F. Manz
An Historical Geography of Iran by Vasilii Vladimirovich Bartold
Karim Khan Zand (Makers of the Muslim World) by John R. Perry
Shah Abbas: The Ruthless King Who Became an Iranian Legend by David Blow
The Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant by Michael Axworthy
Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran by Parvaneh Pourshariati
Decline of Iranshahr by Peter Christensen
Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Tragic Anglo-American Coup by Christopher de Bellaigue
Slaves on Horses: The Evolution of the Islamic Polity by Patricia Crone
Early Seljuq History: A New Interpretation by A.C.S. Peacock
Persianate Selves: Memories of Place and Origin Before Nationalism by Mana Kia
The Persianate World: Rethinking a Shared Sphere by Abbas Amanat & Assef Ashraf
The Persianate World: The Frontiers of a Eurasian Lingua Franca by Nile Green
Literacy in the Persianate World: Writing and the Social Order by Brian Spooner (Editor),William L. Hanaway (Editor)
War and Peace in Qajar Persia: Implications Past and Present by Roxane Farmanfarmaian
Arsacids and Sasanians: Political Ideology in Post-Hellenistic and Late Antique Persia by M. Rahim Shayegan
The Aura Of Kings: Legitimacy And Divine Sanction In Iranian Kingship by Abolala Soudavar
Continuity in Iranian Identity: Resilience of a Cultural Heritage by Fereshteh Davaran
Mystics, Monarchs, and Messiahs: Cultural Landscapes of Early Modern Iran by Kathryn Babayan
The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia by Peter Hopkirk
Tribes and State Formation in the Middle East by Philip S. Khoury (editor)
The Rise and Rule of Tamerlane by Beatrice F. Manz
An Historical Geography of Iran by Vasilii Vladimirovich Bartold
Karim Khan Zand (Makers of the Muslim World) by John R. Perry
Shah Abbas: The Ruthless King Who Became an Iranian Legend by David Blow
The Sword of Persia: Nader Shah, from Tribal Warrior to Conquering Tyrant by Michael Axworthy
Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire: The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran by Parvaneh Pourshariati
Decline of Iranshahr by Peter Christensen
Patriot of Persia: Muhammad Mossadegh and a Tragic Anglo-American Coup by Christopher de Bellaigue
Slaves on Horses: The Evolution of the Islamic Polity by Patricia Crone
Early Seljuq History: A New Interpretation by A.C.S. Peacock
Building a New Renaissance in Iranshahr
The peoples of Iranshahr are part of a rich cultural and philosophical tradition that few really know of. It is imperative to uncover and build upon this unique civilization. Here are some of the great works of literature and philosophy that belong to us all.
Occidentosis: A Plague from the West by Jalal Al-e Ahmad
Lost Wisdom: Rethinking Modernity in Iran by Abbas Milani
The Baburnama: Memoirs of Babur, Prince and Emperor by Zahirud-din Muhammad Babur
The Book of Dede Korkut by Anonymous
The Shahnameh by Abolqasem Ferdowsi
The Conference of the Birds by Attar of Nishapur
Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane by S. Frederick Starr
The Book of Government or Rules for Kings by Nizam al-Mulk
Occidentosis: A Plague from the West by Jalal Al-e Ahmad
Lost Wisdom: Rethinking Modernity in Iran by Abbas Milani
The Baburnama: Memoirs of Babur, Prince and Emperor by Zahirud-din Muhammad Babur
The Book of Dede Korkut by Anonymous
The Shahnameh by Abolqasem Ferdowsi
The Conference of the Birds by Attar of Nishapur
Lost Enlightenment: Central Asia's Golden Age from the Arab Conquest to Tamerlane by S. Frederick Starr
The Book of Government or Rules for Kings by Nizam al-Mulk
Tolerance & Empathy Begins with Understanding
Iranshahr is the cradle of a vast number of religions, both extinct and persistent. In order to build a non-extremist and secular society, we must come to understand the faiths of our sisters and brothers. Here are resources about the faiths of Iranshahr.
The Sacred Scriptures of Zoroastrianism
The Sacred Scriptures of Manichaeism
Summary of the Mazdakite Faith
Summary of the Khurrami Faith
Sacred Scriptures of the Bahai Faith
Summary of the Yarsan Faith
Summary of the Yazidi Faith
Summary of the Mithraic Faith
Summary of the Armenian Apostalic Christian Faith
Summary of the Church of the East Faith
Summary of the Assyrian Church of the East Faith
Summary of the Chaldean Catholic Church Faith
The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran: Rural Revolt and Local Zoroastrianism by Patricia Crone
The Din I Ilahi Or The Religion Of Akbar by Makhanlal Roychoudhury Sastri
The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World by Payam Nabarz (Editor)
The Sacred Scriptures of Zoroastrianism
The Sacred Scriptures of Manichaeism
Summary of the Mazdakite Faith
Summary of the Khurrami Faith
Sacred Scriptures of the Bahai Faith
Summary of the Yarsan Faith
Summary of the Yazidi Faith
Summary of the Mithraic Faith
Summary of the Armenian Apostalic Christian Faith
Summary of the Church of the East Faith
Summary of the Assyrian Church of the East Faith
Summary of the Chaldean Catholic Church Faith
The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran: Rural Revolt and Local Zoroastrianism by Patricia Crone
The Din I Ilahi Or The Religion Of Akbar by Makhanlal Roychoudhury Sastri
The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World by Payam Nabarz (Editor)