The 86th episode of Parse, is an except of Jenny Rose’s illustrated talk, based on research for her most recent book – Between Boston and Bombay: Cultural and Commercial Encounters of Yankees and Parsis 1771-1865 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019). Her book focuses on the early contact of Americans with Zoroastrians and their religion from the late 18th to the mid-19th century. American interest in the “Persian Religion” was informed initially through secondhand reports, but once direct trade with India was established close links were formed with Parsi merchants in Mumbai, which are documented in personal letters, journals, and logbooks now held in American libraries. This presentation explores some of these first-hand American records before a brief look at accounts of a few Parsis who made their way to North America at the time of the Civil War. 

Jenny Rose is an adjunct professor and historian of religions in the Zoroastrian Studies program in Claremont Graduate University’s Religion Department. She holds a doctorate in Ancient Iranian Studies from Columbia University.Rose lectures extensively at other academic institutions, museums, and Zoroastrian Association events throughout North America and Europe. She also leads study tours of some of the most important archaeological, cultural, and devotional sites in Iran and Central Asia. 

To watch the full talk, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNSPZhRXLYM&t=816s