A Comparative Historical Analysis of Education Situation in the Timurid Period of Iran According to the Content of the Manshat (Letters)

Among Iranian literary works, the Manshat contains extensive information on social topics such as establishment of schools, founders, teachers, students, curricula, and teaching methods. The purpose of this study was an analytical-comparative research of the situation of education in the Timurid period according to the content of existing Manshat. The data collection method was documentary by reviewing available Manshat and other sources (primary and secondary sources). To analyze the data, the researchers used only internal critique. Findings showed that while the Manshat have a variety of topics, about one third of them are dedicated to scientific / educational topics. According to the analysis of the content of the Manshat, the construction of schools in Timurid period is similar in four dimensions: Type of founder, method of establishment, selection of students and method of teaching. There is also a difference between the Manshat in the five dimensions of the founder's intention to establish the school, type of endowment (general or special), criteria for selecting a teacher, content of the courses and administrative structure. According to the findings, it is suggested that the participation of politicians in establishment of educational institutions based on "public endowment tradition” be again considered by educational planners in Iran