Historical Sciences Studies

Abstract At the beginning of the 21st century, one of  China's most important concerns was its urgent need for energy resources to sustain its economic development. In 2001, when China joined the World Trade Organization, Beijing's desire to engage with the international community and be present on the world economic scene  doubled, adopting a variety of approaches in its foreign policy. These new approaches along with other policies brought numerous political-economic  achievements to China. The "realism" approach  was one of the strategies in which China was able to pursue its long-term goals in the Persian Gulf. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to understand the realist approach in China's foreign policy and its purpose is to examine the impact of this approach on China's success in interacting with the Persian Gulf. This article seeks to answer this main question: "What have been the achievements of China since the beginning of the 21st century, through adopting Realism in forign policy? The hypothesis of this article is based on the fact that at the beginning of the 21st century, China tried to expand its interaction with the Persian Gulf countries in the form of various projects by inclining towards a realistic approach, and participating in international forums related to the Persian Gulf, it advanced its political and economic goals, which were to receive energy, dominate the regional markets, and maintain the security of their resources and interests. Findings of this article suggests that China's foreign policy in the Persian Gulf is a prime example of a pragmatic and calculated realism that Beijing has developed under the guise of multilateral economic diplomacy. This article  presents its findings by collecting library information and internet resources in a descriptive-analytical method, and then draws conclusions. 

Abstract One of the most significant discussion in history science is examination, and critique of historians' historiography and the extent and manner in which they utilize theological rules of theology and religious belief. when history and theology conflict some of these historians set aside history in favor of theology. Undoubtedly, every historian can use theological data as evidence and proof alongside other historical evidences, reasons and documents but the problem of some historians is that they consider theology and beliefs as definitive and final document, denying or justifying any historical report that conflicts with their beliefs, and attack the narrators of these reports under the pretext of Shiism. One of these theological rules that some Sunni historians have relied on in their historiography and have denied or justified all historical documents in favor of it is the rule of "being a companion". The aim of this research is to examine the extent and nature of the influence of this theological rule on the historiography of two groups of contemporary Sunni historians and to criticize it. Contemporary Sunni historians are divided into two groups in relying on theological rules or relying on historical documents. For the first group, who are called historians, Taha Husein and Abulala AlMaududi have been selected. For the second group, we have selected Muhammad Sallabi and Munir Ghadban as theologian-historians. The main research question: To what extent have historians and theologians-historians used the rule of "being a companion" and what are the consequences of using this rule? The method of this research is descriptive-analytical and comparative. Some results obtained are: Historians have not benefited from this rule, but theologian-historians, instead of relying on historical evidence, have benefited this rule as a definitive reason, evidence and document, therefore they have not been able to present an objective, scientific and refined history.

Abstract The tomb attributed to Avicenna (Ibn Sina) in Esfahan’s Dardasht neighborhood is a valuable Dailamite-era monument. It was likely once part of a larger architectural ensemble that over time lost its links to adjoining structures and now survives as an isolated domed space. Because physical evidence is limited, its study has relied chiefly on written sources spanning several centuries that directly or indirectly mention Avicenna’s residence, teaching, and death. Using historical, descriptive-analytical, and comparative methods, the relationship between Sheikh al-Ra'is and Esfahan was reassessed. Pre-Safavid sources focus mainly on his biography and works, with only occasional references to the place of his death, burial, and the cities connected to his interment. Post-Safavid texts increasingly highlight the examined structure as both a madrasa and a possible burial site, yet still provide only general narrative fragments and brief notes on architectural features or later alterations. Current evidence has strengthened the plausibility of Avicenna’s burial in Esfahan, though definitive attribution of his tomb to either Esfahan or Hamadan remains unresolved; both cities retain importance. The evidence, however, strongly supports identifying the building as Avicenna’s madrasa in Esfahan. This view is widely accepted by most researchers, including the present authors, who emphasize its role as a significant historical and educational site associated with Sheikh al-Ra'is. The monument’s transformation over time and its enduring cultural significance underscore its relevance to the historical study of Avicenna’s legacy

Abstract The tradition of the Great Rebellion against Naram-Sin is known through royal inscriptions and various literary works. This event holds significance for two main reasons: first, Naram-Sin's elevation to divine status following the suppression of a widespread revolt; second, the profound impact it had on the historical memory of Mesopotamian people, particularly influencing later literary works. According to Naram-Sin's own inscriptions, the rebellion was so severe that it seemed as though all the lands under his command had risen against the king of Akkad. The rebellion was ultimately quelled through the intervention of the goddess Ishtar-Anunitum, after which Naram-Sin, with the prayers of the Akkadian people and divine approval, was elevated to godhood. This article offers a comprehensive analysis of the Great Rebellion against Naram-Sin, examining the narrative of the Great Revolt inscription alongside related literary works. The historicity of the rebellion, its geographical scope, and the purposes behind the composition of these texts will be discussed. Finally, the research will explore whether the key events of the Great Rebellion are historically grounded, and how later literary texts employed this theme for propaganda, to interpret contemporary events, or simply as works of fiction

Abstract This research, which was conducted using a historical method and a descriptive-analytical approach, examines the history of the shipbuilding industry in Islamic civilization in the first century AH and in the Mediterranean Sea basin. In fact, the main question of the present research is how the development and evolution of the shipbuilding industry in Islamic civilization in the first century AH and in the Mediterranean Sea basin was? The research findings show that the idea of ​​expanding the Islamic territory, along with protecting the conquered countries, interested Muslims in entering the shipbuilding industry and creating a naval fleet. In the meantime, the Mediterranean Sea had a special place for them due to its economic and strategic importance. Muslims set foot on this sea in the first century AH. After their initial encounters with the powerful Byzantine fleet, the Muslim conquerors tried to establish their dominance over this sea by hiring local craftsmen and using their knowledge, while creating and developing the shipbuilding industry. The result of this was the establishment of numerous shipbuilding workshops in regions such as the Levant, Egypt, and North Africa, which Muslims called "Dar al-Sina'ah." In addition to facilitating maritime conquests, the shipbuilding industry later played an important role in expanding Muslim economic, social, and cultural relations with other parts of the world

Abstract Marriage and family formation held paramount importance in Zoroastrianism, providing a framework wherein each family member could benefit from social rights and advantages. Women, as fundamental members of the family, could also avail themselves of these benefits. However, not all women could equally enjoy these advantages, as certain conditions within Zoroastrianism could influence a woman’s financial status. This descriptive-analytical research aims to examine the status of women’s ownership by conducting a case study of two documents, 22 and 22bis, from Tabarestān. These two documents concern a complaint regarding properties held by a pādixšāy-zan and the judicial process of their investigation is meticulously explored. The investigations indicate that by studying these two documents and other legal texts, such as the Mādiyān ī Hazār Dādestān, it can be concluded that a woman’s ownership of these assets was not absolute but rather conditional upon her position and obligations within the family institution

Abstract Islamic civilization Some of the Jalayerid princes retreated to Khuzestan and continued the Jalayerid rule in 813 AH, but their history is not clear. Using historical sources and found coins, this historical study seeks to answer to the question of what components and factors were effective in the formation and continuation of the dynasty? This study shows that the late Jalayerid sultans, using factors such as Sheikh Ali's governmental background, the political isolation of the region, and the cautious policy of the Timurids towards the Qaraquyunlu, ruled Khuzestan and southern Iraq for more than two decades (814-835 AH). The following causes can be considered as factors affecting in the instability of the dynasty: lack of social support, inability and failure to create legitimacy of power by restoring the previous structure and establishing social security, change of policy of the Timurid court towards them, inexperience of the rulers and intra-family conflicts.

Abstract Makoran was a vast territory in southeastern Iran between the third and eighth centuries AH, encompassing a large part of present-day Baluchistan. During the aforementioned centuries, numerous political fluctuations and changes occurred in eastern and southeastern Iran, and numerous governments with diverse borders and political structures came to power. On the other hand, the extent of the states, the definition of the states in more detail, and the determination of the boundaries and boundaries of the states were also areas of disagreement among geographers. Given the extent of the state of Makoran during this period, the changing political structure and borders of the governments, and the lack of direct visits by geographers to Makoran during that period, the question arises as to how the geographical texts from the third to eighth centuries AH described the land of Makoran. Since most geographers from the third to the eighth century AH did not refer directly to Makoran and described this land based on indirect reports, the information provided in these texts indicates that the sources used by the authors were limited and the reports contained in the geographical texts were mostly similar, repetitive, and in some cases inaccurate and wrong. The purpose of this article is to explain the errors and shortcomings in the reports of geographers from the third to the eighth century AH about Makoran. This article is written in a historical manner by describing and analyzing data collected from library sources and using the oldest printed version of geographical texts.

Abstract Local influential families, depending on their status and various actions, have always been among the influential provincial groups. Awareness of the actions, power elements, and the contexts of status continuity these families is essential for understanding and analyzing historical events. the Sadat Sharifi Hosseini Shirazi family, with a presence of several centuries (1375–1963), held various influential positions in politics (including law enforcement...), religion (such as custodianship of Shah Cheragh Shrine...), and society (serving as the spiritual leader of the Sufi Zahabiya order), and were among the multifaceted influential families Therefore, given the influential presence of the Sharifi Hosseini family, this study employs a descriptive analytical method, utilizing historical sources to examine the activities and engagements of this family. The findings of this study indicate that the family, by relying on their unique attributes such as hereditary legitimacy, accumulated administrative experience, and through interactions with the ruling political powers attained the highest positions within the structure of Fars, the simultaneous combination of the leadership of the Zahabiya Sufi order and the custodianship of the Shah Cheragh shrine in certain members of this family, such as Mirza Abd al-Nabi (1738-1815), Mirza Abolqasem Raz (1797-1869), and Majd al-Ashraf (1827-1912), led to a significant increase in their status and influence in Fars. On the other hand, their involvement in cultural activities played a significant role in enhancing their social status. The findings also provide precise information about the actions and influence of this family, especially its most renowned members

Abstract The present brief study revisits a document dated 1233 AH, concerning Mirza Mansur Khan Behbahani, the governor of Behbahan and Kohgiluyeh during the reign of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar. The narrative of the document is as follows: initially, Mirza Sultan Mohammad Khan, father of Mirza Mansur, constructed his governmental residence on a piece of land of uncertain ownership known as the “Bagh-e Mir Shah Mir.” Subsequently, his son, Mirza Mansur Khan Behbahani, built his own governmental residence on another section of the same land. At the same time, he undertook an investigation to determine the legal owners of the property. It was established that the land belonged to two families of the Tabatabai Sayyids, from whom he purchased the land and formally settled the ownership. The present document represents the sale contract and settlement agreement of this land. Mirza Mansur Khan belonged to the lineage of the governors of Behbahan and was a prominent political figure in Fars during the reign of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, having also lived through part of Mohammad Shah’s reign. His daughter, Gowhar Taj Begum, was married to Najaf Qoli Mirza Vali, son of Hossein Ali Mirza Farmanfarma. Among the significant events in Mirza Mansur Khan’s life was the visit of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar to the region of Behbahan and Kohgiluyeh in 1245 AH due to certain disturbances in the province of Fars. Mirza Mansur Khan was entrusted with guiding the royal entourage during this journey. A letter dated 1245 AH, bearing the seal of Farmanfarma, was addressed to Mirza Mansur Khan, reporting on the Shah’s visit to the area and assuring him of safety and order. This letter was part of the archives of Sardar Amjad Mansouri Tabatabai and was recently donated to the Central Library of the University of Tehran. As it is currently under restoration and organization, it has not yet been cataloged

Abstract This study employs a historical-analytical approach, drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of symbolic capital and Max Weber’s concept of legitimate power, to explore the role of scientific medals and honors during Iran’s Qajar and Pahlavi periods. It posits that these honors were not merely tokens of recognition but strategic tools for reinforcing political power by identifying and elevating regime-aligned elites while marginalizing independent intellectuals. Findings show that, starting in the Qajar era with institutions like Dar al-Funun, medals became mechanisms for stabilizing the political order. In the Pahlavi period, this process was systematized through stricter regulations and the University of Tehran’s prominence, fostering a loyal elite structure. Bourdieu’s framework highlights how these honors deepened social and class distinctions, tying elites to power, while Weber’s perspective underscores their role in establishing rational-legal legitimacy and distinguishing social status. This dynamic strengthened the regime but also widened cultural and social divides, contributing to political upheavals like the Islamic Revolution. The study reveals how scientific medals, as symbolic capital, served to legitimize ruling systems and reproduce elite structures, offering new insights into the interplay of culture, science, and politics in modern Iranian history and emphasizing the need to reassess symbolic capital’s role in Iran’s historical-political studies

Abstract The city of Kashghar was situated at the convergence of Chinese communication routes that crossed the northern and southern parts of the Taklamakan Desert. This city served as the gateway for caravans traveling on the historical roads connecting Transoxiana, Sindh and the central plateau of Iran to China. This route has been known as the Silk Road from 19th century.  The access routes from the western regions to the capital of China branched off from the city to the northern and southern edges of the Taklamakan, eventually these routes leaded to ancient Chinese capital, Chang’an (长安), or Xi’an (西安), referred to in Islamic texts as Khamdān (خَمدان). The northern route passed through the city of Turfan, while the southern route traversed Khotan and then, being on a single route that went to the imperial capital of China. Due to Kashghar’s pivotal role in the exchanges between China and the Islamic world, early Islamic texts referred to it as the border of Islam (ثغرالاسلام). Even in the pre-Islamic period, cultural and commercial interactions between Iran and China along this corridor carried out through the mediation of one of the oldest Iranian peoples—the Sogdians. This mediating role continued into the Islamic period and the Sogdians assumed a crucial role in facilitating cultural and economic exchanges between China and the Muslim world. Some Sogdians even settled along this route, serving as cultural intermediaries.The strategic importance of access routes to Kashghar as the gateway to China for Muslims led to this ancient road being introduced in various geographical, historical, and literary texts of the Islamic world.  In other words, the toponyms along the route from Kashghar to the Chinese capital has been noted in Islamic sources from the early Islamic centuries to the 10th century AH (16th century CE). Despite numerous studies on the cities along this route, no dedicated research has yet focused on the transcription and phonetic transformations of their names based on manuscript versions of Islamic texts. The significance of this issue has prompted the present article to investigate the representation of caravan stations in northern China—from Kashghar to Chang’an—as a historical problem worthy of detailed examination. This study, while engaging with prior research on the subject, identifies and analyses the toponyms based on the oldest or most authoritative manuscript sources of Islamic texts and reconstructs the geographical conception of Muslim authors of this route