An excellent new book has been published pertaining to Iranians and the Silk Road entitled:

Iranians on the Silk Road: Merchants, Kingdoms and Religions 

Authors Touraj Daryaee, Khodadad Rezakhani, and Matteo Compareti

Publisher: Afshar Publishing, Beverly Hills, California (2010)

ISBN: 978 0 96276 645 9

Order Placements: This text will be placed on Amazon.com in the month of August 2010 by the honorable Arash Afshar, who now prints the Encyclopaedia Iranica and the Shahnameh edition.

This informative text focuses on the role of the wider Iranian peoples who inhabited a wide swathe of territory in Central Asia along the ancient Silk Road. Iranian peoples such as the Sakas, Bactrians, Soghdians, Persians, Khwarazmians and Parthians played a cruial role in the trade and transport of goods from China and India to the Eastern Mediterranean. They were also responsible for the spread of ideas, especially the religions of Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Buddhism, Nestorian Christinaity and Islam throughout Asia.

The text is a standard reference source for those seeking a clear and informative synopsis of Iranian peoples’ contribution to the development of trade and religious life in the time span of the first millenium BC and the first millenium AD.

An interesting Fresco showing the Manichaean elect (Figure 4, page 6). Many of the followers of Mani migrated to central Asia from the Sassanian Empire (224-651 AD) .

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About the Authors

Dr. Touraj Daryaee is the Howard C. Baskerville Professor in the History of Iran and the Persianate World at the University of California (Irvine). His specialties are in the Sassanian era as well as the history, language and literature of late antiquity. He also hosts an excellent resource website on the Sassanians entitled Sasanika: The Culture and History of the Sassanians.

Dr. Khodadad Rezakhani has a PhD in late antique economic history from UCLA. His research focuses on the world of Eurasia and the history of pre-modern Central Asia. Readers are also referred to Sassanian Chemical Warfare? A Scientific Re-assesment – by Dr. Reza Yeganehshakib (Depatment of History, University of California, Irvine) and history and Dr. Khodadad Rezakhani of UCLA

Dr. Matteo Compareti obtained his PhD from the University of Naples, LÒrientale. He specializes in the art history of Iran and Central Asia. His latest publication is `Samaracanda Centro del Mondo – Proposte di Lettura del Ciclo Pittorico di Afrasiyab, Minesis, 2010`. Readers are also referred to Dr. Compareti`s article posted on Iranian.com entitled `Soghdiana: Iranian Culture in Central Asia`.  

Persian-language video documentary by Akbar Moarefi/ اکبر معارفی on the influence of Zoroastrianism on Iranian culture and other world civilizations and religions. This documentary makes references to the Scythians (Saka) and the wider Iranic world. Note also interesting references to topics such as Mithraism.

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Part 1: Introduction-قسمت اول – مقدمه

 Part 2: From Nietzsche to Mani-قسمت دوم – از نیچه تا مانی

 Part 3: Religion of Light-قسمت سوم – دین نور-

 Part 4: From Mani to Scythians-قسمت چهارم – از مانی تا سکاها-

  Part 5: From Scythians to Goths-قسمت پنجم – از سکاها تا گاتها-

 Part 6: Hun Invasion  and Expansion of Mithraism-قسمت ششم – حمله هون ها و گسترش آئین میترا-

Part 7: Mithraism and Semitic Religions-قسمت هفتم – آئین میترا و ادیان سامی-

Part 8: Birth of Cyrus-قسمت هشتم – تولد کورش-

Part 9: Rule of Cyrus Begins-قسمت نهم – آغاز حکومت کورش-

Part 10: Conquest of Lydia-قسمت دهم – تسخیر لیدی-

Part 11: Conquest of Babylon -قسمت یازدهم – تسخیر بابل -

This video documentary traces the civilizations of ancient Iran from Elamite times to the Medes, Achaemenids, Parthians, Sassanians and the post-Islamic era (i.e. Safavids).

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Part 1: The Elamites

 Part 2: Medes, Persians Cyrus the Great and Cylinder for Human Rights and Achaemenids

 Part 3: Alexander’s invasion of Persia, ousting of post-Alexandrian Seleucids by Parthian Empire, the Sassanians, Zoroastrianism

Part 4: Post-Sassanian Iran’s contribution to Islamic Civilization

Part 5: Rise of Persian arts, poetry, literaure , Universities and culture

Part 6: The development and Effervescence of post-Islamic Persia

Part 7: The artistic and cultural splendor of Persia

The Executive Founders of WAALM and WAALM – SCD, Prof. M. Dorbayani, PhD and his spouse Marjan A. Dorbayani, PhD have been the recipients of the 2010 Human Rights Hero Awards at the 7th Annual International Human Rights Summit in Geneva, the seat of European headquarters of the United Nations. This has been awarded for their outstanding tenacity and dedication in the promotion of human rights to students, artists, writers, scholars and in their success om reaching millions more through the media.

WAALM ’s ‘School of Cultural Diplomacy provides educational courses, study programmes, seminars, research and strategies to promote international peace, learning, dialogue and human rights.

Iranshenasi: A journal of Iranian Studies is one the most highly respected peer-reviewed journals of Iranian Studies and features an advisorry board of Iranian Studies scholars of the highest calibre. The chief editor of this journal is the distinguished Dr. Jalal Matini who has worked for decades to ensure the publication of articles pertinent to Iranian culture, history, society and the state of Iranian Studies programs in academia. Dr. Matini was the President of Ferdowsi University in Mashhad before the 1979 revolution.

Dr. Jalal Matini (standing at podium), the Chief Editor of the Iranshenasi journal  flanked by the late Iranian poet and thinker, Nader Naderpour (seated at left) at UCLA.

The iranshenasi journal also utilizes first-class academics in the field of Iranian Studies to review recent books and publications. The recent Iranshenasi edition features the following book review by Farhad Mafie of California State University (Fullerton):

Mafie, Farhad (2010). Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War, by Dr. Kaveh Farrokh. Iranshenasi, Volume XXII, No.1, Spring 2010, pp.1-5 (see document in pdf).

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Introduction & the State of Iranian Studies Programs

Below are some select quotes from Mafie’s introductiory observations:

“Fortunately, more and more first- and second-generation Iranian scholars, archaeologists, and researchers in the West have shown great interest in…studying ancient Persia…faciliated some serious scholarly works  on Iran’s pre-Islamic eras, in spite of the lack of financial support nad many other limitations” (Mafie, 2010, pp.1).

Mafie’s reference to the “lack of financial support and many other limitations” is very astute and to the point. Professor Ehsan Yarshater, the editor of the Encyclopaedia Iranica, noted in an interview with the Gooya News Service on June 6, 2004 that:

“…the total number of competent scholars in Iranian Studies is decreasing…the number of young scholars drawn to Iranian Studies has become alarmingly low…the one exception is Italy…”.

Since that interview, Iranian studies in Italy have been threatened by the possible closure of the Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente .

Professor Yarshater meets Farrokh during the Persian American Society’s honoring ceremonies for Professor Emeritus Richard Nelson Frye on March 1, 2008. It was during one of the key speeches at this event when Professor Yarshater raised alarm with respect to anti-Iran historical revisionists and the dangers of insufficient support for Iranian Studies in the West.

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Evaluation

Mafie has provided a number of points evaluating Farrokh’s text. Four of these are cited below’: 

“Even though the book obviously focuses on the history of warfare and armaments during the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanian Empires, Farrokh metioculously analyzes the cultural, political and religious aspects of each period and he shows how they are all interwoven and how they have impacted each war and its aftermath” (Mafie, 2010, pp.2).

“To his credit, while he shows the glories of the Persian Empires, he makes objective assesments of the events and their consequences…based on the historical evidences  ”  (Mafie, 2010, pp.3).

“Even if one does not have the time to read this wonderful and informative book in its entirty…Chapter 19 (“The Legacy of Persia after the Islamic Conquest”) must be read, especially by all young Iranians interested in learning about Sassanians’ and Iran’s impact throughout history upon civilizations around the world…Chapter 19 could be expanded to a separate volume… ” (Mafie, 2010, pp.4).

“The book contains a very useful chronology and a comprehensive bibliography of both primary and secondary sources, which help the reader to find the desired relevant references much faster. In addition to a comprehensive index, Farrokh provides an excellent Endnotes section that offers further explanations, references and relevant information on various key points in each chapter. A great help to students! ” (Mafie, 2010, pp.4).

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Recognition

Mafie has made reference to the text’s recognition by noting that:

“Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War received the “Best History Book of 2008 Award” in the London WAALM (the World Academy of Arts, Literature, and Media) ceremonies in November 2008. It has also been selected as among the top three history books of 2008 by the Independent Book Publishers Association of the United States” (Mafie, 2010, pp.4).

Farrokh at the WAALM ceremonies of November 2008.

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Conclusion Notes

Mafie has referred to the text as a reference source at the post-secondary level:

“Many historians in major universities…have selected this outstanding volume…I am sure more and more universities and colleges will be adopting Farrokh’s book once they have had the opportunity to read and examine this informative volume for themselves” (Mafie, 2010, pp.5).

Meeting his mentors: Farrokh greets Professor Emeritus Richard Nelson Frye of Harvard University(shaking hands with Farrokh) and world-renowned Iranologist, Dr. Farhang Mehr (at center), winner of the 2010 Merit and Scholarship award (photo from Persian American Society,March 1, 2008).  As noted by Mafie, Professor Frye of Harvard University wrote the foreword of Farrokh’s text stating that “…Dr. Kaveh Farrokh has given us the Persian side of the picture as opposed to the Greek and Roman viewpoint …it is refreshing to see the other perspective, and Dr. farrokh sheds light on many Persian institutions in this history…” (Mafie, 2010, pp.2).  

Mafie conludes that:

“I highly recommend this wonderful bookl to anyone who is interested in learning about pre-Islamic Iranian history…and how the legacy of the Persian Empires continues in today’s world (Mafie, 2010, pp.4)…this book is not limited to textbook use or to scholarly studies. Everyone who is interested in world history will enjoy this volume…” (Mafie, 2010, pp.5).