پژوهشنامه تاریخ تمدن اسلامی
سال پنجاه و ششم شماره 1 (پیاپی 116، بهار و تابستان 1402)

Lorestan province, located in western Iran, has historically played a significant role in connecting the southern, western, northwest, and central regions of the country. Over time, numerous important communication routes have traversed this region. While textual sources from the Islamic era mention these routes, their specific paths, the number and quality of structures along the way, and the archaeological evidence of their routes remain largely unexplored. This research aims to identify and introduce the communication path between Shapurkhashat and Nahavand, examining its archaeological evidence. The study adopts a historical approach, utilizing field visits and library research to answer two main questions: 1) What archaeological evidence exists along the route from Shapurkhashat to Nahavand during the Islamic era? 2) How did this road develop during the Islamic era, and what changes occurred? The findings suggest that the road follows an ancient route with minor alterations in the Islamic era, and its houses and stations have seen minimal changes until the present day.

In museums and collections of Islamic art, there are silk textiles from the Safavid period that often bear inscriptions featuring the name of Imam Hussain. Despite their varying dimensions and potential diverse functions, most of these works have been classified as tomb covers without being examined collectively. This paper focuses on eighteen pieces, with ten of them dated between 1545 and 1740-41, specifically exploring examples from the eighteenth century. The research aims to address questions regarding the evolution of the content of inscriptions over time, its correlation with the Safavid period's history, as well as identifying the purpose and origin of these textiles. The investigation reveals that the production of these textiles aligned with the expansion of Muharram mourning practices, the construction of Husseiniyah buildings, and the establishment of endowments for Muharram rituals during the reign of Safavid Sultan Hussain. Until around 1710, Shiite references in the textiles were mainly expressed through ṣalawat-i kabira and a focus on Imam Ali, but afterwards, the prominence shifted to Imam Hussain's name. Through written sources, book paintings, and analysis of the textile inscriptions, it can be concluded that most of these textiles, particularly mourning banners (ʿalam), were likely created by artists from Kashan.

By reflecting on the myths and pivotal moments in Iranian history, it becomes apparent that in the establishment of the power structure and the Legitimacy of the kings, consideration for the people and a commitment to justice for the welfare played a significant role, and the divine Farrah confirmed the principles of royal Farrah. As long as the king was on the side of the people and focused on their needs, he possessed the required nobility and authority. In this perspective, the establishment of the royal institution was the outcome of public action and consensus, and the power system had a traditional nature and a sacred significance. The support of the residents of Iranshahr for the fair and wise king contributed to the reduction of his power, while the tyranny and animosity of the people also played a significant role in his decline. Based on this premise, the present article takes a descriptive-analytical approach to examine the public Legitimacy of the government and the function of the royal institution in Iran. It reflects on this issue from the perspective of the historian Abū Ḥanīfa Dīnawarī. According to the Iranian historiography of Abū Ḥanīfa Dīnawarī, it appears that the historian, as one of the early Islamic historiographers, documented the events related to the interaction between society and the government, emphasizing the importance of rulers paying attention to the needs of the people. He explains the harmony of society and the government in a mythological manner, highlighting the position of the people and the secular-sacred aspect of the government.

The Safavid era in the history of Iran, following the advent of Islam, holds a significant place in terms of politics and religion due to the establishment of political unity within Iran's borders and the embrace of the Shiite faith. This period was characterized by the Safavid rulers' confrontations with internal dissidents and diverse foreign adversaries. While historical sources from the Safavid era depict these confrontations and conflicts, they are not always faithful representations of reality. Instead, they often reflect the historians' interpretation of events, blending historical content with literary expression. The present study, conducted through a comprehensive review of relevant sources from the Safavid era, aims to explore the intertwined nature of history and poetry, and how these two elements have shaped historical narratives during this period. By delving into the use of poetry within historical texts, the research seeks to understand the role of poetic expression in conveying historical events and stories. The research findings reveal that the extensive incorporation of poetry in historical texts of the Safavid era can be attributed to several factors, including its heightened appeal and influence, the influence of the historiographical tradition from the Mongol era and earlier periods, and the educational backgrounds of the historians of this time, who were steeped in literary traditions before transitioning to historical authorship.

Abu al-Khayr Shams al-Din al-Jazari, also known as Ibn al-Jazari, was a renowned scholar who gained prominence during the Timurid period. After Timur's victory over the Ottoman Sultan Bayazid in the Battle of Ankara in 805/1402, Ibn al-Jazari moved to Samarkand. Subsequently, he spent two years in Transoxiana before departing for Shiraz following Timur's death. From then until his passing in 833/1429 in Shiraz, he undertook numerous travels, settled in different cities, and authored numerous works. The present research aims to shed light on his life and scholarly activities in the last three decades, focusing on first-hand sources, particularly manuscripts. This research seeks to rectify the oversight in biographies related to Ibn al-Jazari, the findings of this study demonstrate that he revisited Transoxiana and Khorasan at least twice, and his hadith gatherings garnered interest from both political and scholarly figures during the Timurid period.

The concept of Iranshahr first surfaced in the Inscription of the First Shah Poor in the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht during the third century, proliferating in inscriptions, coins, and texts throughout the Sassanid era. With the collapse of the Sassanid dynasty due to the invasion of Muslim Arabs, the Iran plateau became part of the Islamic Caliphate. Some scholars argue that following the demise of the Sassanian dynasty, the unity of Iranshahr, along with its political independence, was disintegrated. The significance of Iranshahr in Islamic texts denotes the ancient plateau of Iran, evoking a nostalgic memory that endured in literature and collective consciousness. This study aims to scrutinize and reassess the continuity of Iranshahr's integrity through an examination of geographical and historical texts from the Islamic period. By analyzing these sources, the research seeks to elucidate and affirm the persistence of the concept during the Islamic era, portraying the region's cities as distinct from other Islamic cities within the dar al-Islam.