Iranian Studies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ferdowsi's Shahnameh

Iranian Studies or Iranistics is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of Iranian cultural continent. It incorporates the study of history, literature, art and culture of Persia (Iran). The terms Iranology, Iranistics, Iranian studies, Persian studies also refer to studies in culture, history, languages and other aspects of the Aryan peoples such as Persians, Kurds, Pashtuns, Ossetians, Scythians etc.

1 History of Iranistics in Persia
2 Iranistics in modern Persia (Iran)
3 Iranistics in Europe
4 Iranistics in United States
5 Some western centers having advanced Iranian Studies programs
6 Persian (Iranian) Studies Journals
7 Yarshater lectureship
8 References
9 See also
10 Famous Iranists (Iranologists)
11 External links

[edit] History of Iranistics in Persia

Ferdowsi, a Persian poet and thinker, is known as the founder of Iranology. In his masterpiece Shahnameh, he tried extensively to address Persian culture, literature, art, history and anthropology^{[citation needed]}.

In the ninth century, the Persian historian Jarir e Tabari made a distinct contribution to Iranology with his book entitled History of the Prophets and Kings, which covers historical events till 915 AD. Tarikh-e Mas'oudi, by the Persian historian and author Abolfazl Beyhaghi (995-1077), is one of the most creditable sources about the Ghaznavid Empire, and his fluent prose style has made the book considerable in Persian literature, too.

The Persian historian Ata Malek Joveyni was the first of several brilliant representatives of Persian historiography who flourished during the period of Mongol domination in Iran (1220–1336). Joveyni's magnum opus, the Tarikh-i jehan-gusha, is one of the most important works of Persian historiography.[1]

Sharaf ad-Din 'Ali Yazdi was one of the greatest historians of 15th-century Persia. The work for which he is best known is the Zafernameh (The Book of Victory). It is a history of the Mongolian conqueror Timur (Tamerlane; 1370–1405) and was probably based on the history of the same name by Nizam ad-Din Shami, a work written at Timur's request.[2]

[edit] Iranistics in modern Persia (Iran)

Tehran University established several Iranology chairs, as ancient Iranian linguistics and culture, Persian literature, history and archeology. Many prominent figures hold these chairs during last century such as Abdolhossein Zarrinkoub, Zabihollah Safa, Ahmad Tafazzoli, Mehrdad Bahar, Jaleh Amouzgar and Badiozzaman Forouzanfar. Moreover Shiraz University has also chairs in Iranology and many notable figures have been conducting world class research on Iranology there (e.g. Alireza Shapour Shahbazi, the world class Achaemenid archaeologist).

Early in 20th century a huge project was started by Persian linguist and historian Allameh Dehkhoda. His encyclopedic collection is the largest comprehensive Persian dictionary ever published, in 15 volumes (26000 pages).

Throughout history, there were several publications on Iranology, among them Sokhan, Yaqma, Rahnamay e Ketab and Kelk were considered the most significant. Kelk was founded by Ali Dehbashi and very soon became one of the most prestigious Iranology journal in the world. Bokhara Magazine (Kelk under a new name) is today the most most reputable Iranology journal. Ali Dehbashi and Iraj Afshar are main editors of the journal who put significant effort in promoting Iranology during last few decades.[3]

[edit] Iranistics in Europe

University of Goettingen is the pioneer of Iranology in the West. In 2003 the hundredth anniversary of Iranology Department was held at Gottingen University. Among European countries, Germany contributed most to Iranology and Persian studies.[4] and [5]

European Iranologist Society has many international meetings in its periodical conferences in different universities and scientific centers all over the world.

[edit] Iranistics in United States

Serious studies of Iranology and instruction of Persian language were launched in the United States in 1958. Iranology department were founded in numerous American universities as Stanford University and Columbia University.

Encyclopedia Iranica which is the most reputable source of Iranian culture has been initiated in Columbia University. Prominent Iranists as Richard Nelson Frye and Ehsan Yarshater have been involved in this project. In fact it is the only precise and reliable reference work on the lands, life, culture and history of all Iranian peoples and their interaction with other societies.[6]