Explore the profound story of Islam's arrival in Iran and its immediate aftermath. For decades, Abdul Hossein Zarinkoob's influential book, "Two Centuries of Silence," has shaped our understanding of this pivotal era, especially the first two centuries after Islam's entry.
This podcast critically revisits Zarinkoob's narrative, drawing on seven decades of new research and discoveries to challenge long-held assumptions and offer fresh perspectives.We delve into the realities of pre-Islamic Arabia, moving beyond the conventional image of an "illiterate, savage, and uncivilized" land to reveal a region with surprisingly high literacy, established kingdoms, and diverse religious communities, including Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians.
We also re-examine the state of Sassanid Iran on the eve of the Islamic emergence, questioning the pervasive narrative of internal decay and bankruptcy. Instead, we present evidence of a militarily and economically strong empire that experienced significant internal political turmoil at its highest levels (e.g., multiple kings in less than ten years), rather than a fundamental societal collapse.
The intellectual and linguistic landscape of Sassanid Iran was also dynamic, with translation movements and multiple languages spoken.
The podcast further scrutinises the speed and nature of the Islamic conquests, suggesting they were less about swift, new invasions by a foreign "other" and more about a rapid shift in power dynamics following the collapse of the Sassanid leadership.
We explore the complex interplay of linguistic and racial identities, challenging the simplified notion of distinct "Iranian" versus "Arab" entities that was prominent in 20th-century nationalist narratives.
Crucially, we argue against the idea of "two centuries of silence" for the period between 650 and 850 AD. Instead, this era was one of rich intellectual and cultural dynamism, marked by significant continuity in social, economic, and political structures. Pahlavi continued to be used, Zoroastrianism developed its philosophical and theological foundations in places like Baghdad, and Islamic thought, philosophy, and jurisprudence were profoundly shaped through extensive dialogue with existing Zoroastrian, Christian, and Jewish traditions in the region.
The tradition of translation also continued and expanded, fostering immense intellectual exchange.
Join us as we use new lenses to understand historical events and figures, acknowledging that narratives are often influenced by the spirit of their times. This episode aims to add new dimensions to the ongoing conversation about the complex and fascinating history of Iran during this transformative period.
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