The History and Culture of Iran and Central Asia: From the Pre-Islamic to the Islamic Period

This book explores the cultural, religious, political, and urban changes in the Iranian world of Inner and Central Asia during the transition from pre-Islamic to Islamic periods, including the religious victory of Islam, the military and political wresting of Inner Asia from the Chinese, and the shifting of Central Asia from an Iranian civilization to a Turkic one. Essays by leading scholars in the fields of archeology, history, linguistics, and literature provide insight into these significant changes.

Format: Hardback
Length: 364 pages
Publication date: 22 April 2022
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

The pre-Islamic to Islamic transition period in the Iranian world of Inner and Central Asia was a time of significant cultural, religious, political, and urban transformations. This vast region, spanning from modern-day Iraq to the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China, was home to one of the world's most influential civilizations. During this transformative era, the region experienced a profound shift that had a lasting impact on world history.

Religious Victory: Islam emerged victorious over Buddhism, Nestorian Christianity, and other religions in the region. The spread of Islam brought about a new religious and cultural order, shaping the beliefs and practices of the people.

Military and Political Dominance: The Islamic sphere of primary cultural influence expanded, as Inner Asia came under the control of the Islamic empires. This shift marked a significant military and political power shift, as the Chinese were replaced by the Arabs and Turks.

Cultural Shift: Central Asia underwent a cultural transformation as it shifted from an Iranian civilization to a Turkic one. The influence of Persian culture declined, while Turkic languages, customs, and traditions gained prominence.

This volume, edited by renowned scholars in the fields of archeology, history, linguistics, and literature, explores these and other significant changes that took place period in the Iranian world. The essays provide valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of this transition, shedding light on the cultural, religious, political, and urban developments that shaped the region.

Contributors to this collection include D. G. Tor, Frantz Grenet, Nicholas Sims-Williams, Etsuko Kageyama, Yutaka Yoshida, Michael Shenkar, Minoru Inaba, Rocco Rante, Arezou Azad, Sören Stark, Louise Marlow, Gabrielle van den Berg, and Dilnoza Duturaeva. Their expertise and contributions make this book a valuable resource for scholars of Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Iranian, and Islamic studies and archaeology.

In conclusion, the pre-Islamic to Islamic transition period in the Iranian world of Inner and Central Asia was a time of profound cultural, religious, political, and urban transformations. The region's transformation had a lasting impact on world history, shaping the course of subsequent centuries. This volume, through its collection of essays by leading scholars, provides valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of this transition, shedding light on the cultural, religious, political, and urban developments that shaped the region.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780268202095