CENTER FOR IRANIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER Vol. 19, No. 1 SIPA-Columbia University-New York Spring 2007

ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA GALA BENEFIT FASCICLE 1 OF VOLUME XIV PUBLISHED DINNER EW ORK ITY Fascicle 1 of Volume XIV features ISLAMIC History; v. LOCAL HISTORIOG- N Y C the remaining sections of the entry RAPHY; vi. MEDIEVAL PERIOD; vii. THE MAY 5, 2007 , a series of 22 articles that SAFAVID PERIOD; VIII. THE QAJAR began in Fascicle 6 of Volume XIII. PERIOD; ix. THE PAHLAVI PERIOD The city of Isfahan has served as one AND POST-REVOLUTION ERA; x. of the most important urban centers MONUMENTS; xi. ISFAHAN SCHOOL on the Iranian plateau since ancient OF PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY; xii. times and has gained, over centuries , PLAN AND FUNCTION; xiii. of urbanization, many significant monu- CRAFTS; xiv. MODERN ECONOMY AND IN- ments. Isfahan is home to a number of DUSTRIES; xv. EDUCATION AND CULTURAL monuments that have been designated AFFAIRS; xvi. ISFAHAN IN THE MIRROR OF by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. It FOLKLORE AND LEGEND; xvii. ARMENIAN is Persiaʼs third largest city, after COMMUNITY (referred to JULFA); xviii. and Mashad, with a population of over JEWISH COMMUNITY; xix. JEWISH DIA- 1.4 million in 2004. LECTS; xx. OF THE MEDIAN The series explores the following DIALECTS; xxi. PROVINCIAL DIALECTS; Dr. Maryam Safai topics: i. GEOGRAPHY; ii. HISTORICAL XXII. GAZI DIALECT. GEOGRAPHY; iii. POPULATION; iv. PRE- Continued on page 2 The Gala Benefit Dinner for the Encyclopædia Iranica will be held in the Rotunda of Columbia University MAJOR DONORS TO THE on May 5, 2007 from 6:30 PM to 1:30 AM. The Gala has been designed and NEW YORK CITY GALA BENEFIT DINNER directed by Dr. Maryam Safai, Associ- ate Trustee of the Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation, and an Executive Commit- tee that she chairs, consisting of Mrs. Nejla Asaadi, Mrs. Nina Ghavami, Mrs. Mahin Khatamee, Dr. Masood Khatamee, Dr. Houshang Mirlohi, and Dr. Farhad Talebian, and with the assistance of an Advisory Committee consisting of Mrs. Nastaran Akhavan, Mr. Ali Ansari, Ms. Gilda De Bortoli, Mrs. Rona Meyers, Mr. Reza Moini, Ms. Sheila Moore, Mrs. Akhtar Mo- Mr. Khosrow B. Semnani Dr. Akbar Ghahary Dr. Sassanfar tamedi, Mr. Omid Omidvar, Mrs. Tina Tehranchian, and Mrs. Houra The major sponsors of the New York City Gala Benefit Dinner on May 5th, Yavari. 2007 are Dr. Abtin Sassanfar (Pink Diamond Sponsor), Dr. Akbar Ghahary The Gala will be graced by the (Ruby Sponsor) and Mr. Khosrow B. Semnani (Ruby Sponsor). presence of Her Majesty, Queen Farah Dr. Abtin Sassanfar, a scholar of the Zoroastrian religion and a lawyer by Pahlavi, who has also donated one of profession, was born in 1928 in Tehran, . His early education at the -e her evening gowns to the Gala auction, Jam elementary school and Firouz high school, both founded and operated and will be attended by a number of by the Zoroastrian community, led to his interest in the Zoroastrian faith and its dignitaries, including Governor Jon philosophy, and encouraged him to study of , the holy book of the Zoroas- Corzine of New Jersey. trians. In his studies, he benefited from the advice and instruction of scholars such A number of supporters of the as Ebrahim Pourdavud, Mohammad Moghadam and Davud Monshizadeh. Encyclopædia Iranica have sponsored After graduating from Tehran Universityʼs Law School and completing a the Gala with donations, including Mr. two-year course in banking, he worked for two years at the National Bank of Iran. Khosrow Semnani, Chairman of the Continued on page 4 Continued on page 4 CIS Newsletter 2

EIR FASCICLE 1 Geography,” de Planhol explores the development of Isfahan city as the pro- Continued from page 1 vincial headquarters and Iranian capital GEOGRAPHY from ancient times to the present. He Three articles explore the ge- shows that it was not until the emer- ography of Isfahan. “Geography of gence of the Saljuqids that geopolitical the Province” by EIr., discusses the conditions aligned for the first time to situation of in central make Isfahan the capital of the state. Persia between the massive central The stabilization of the western border Zagros mountain range and the grand of the empire, the growing Uzbek men- desert. It examines the topographic ace in the northeast, and the European Shah (Imam) , from and climatic regions of the province in presence in the led Shah ISFAHAN X. MONUMENTS three distinct zones: semi-humid and Abbas I to select for his empire a cen- cold areas encompassing western and tral capital which in 1598 he located in of Isfahan City” and “Population of southern valleys; the arid areas along Isfahan; it remained so until its destruc- Isfahan Province,” both by H. Zan- the edge of the central desert; and the tion by the Afghans in 1722. De Planhol jani, discuss the demographic changes semi-arid region of the oasis of Isfahan goes on to discuss the structure and in the population from 1956 to 1996. with Zayanda-rud as a main water re- development of the metropolitan ag- The author notes that reliable modern source, which is marked by a moderate glomeration under Shah Abbas. Finally, demographic data on Isfahanʼs popula- climate and four distinct seasons. he treats Isfahan in contemporary Iran, tion started to become available in 1956, from decline to renewal. In actuality, and has been reported since in regular “Geography of the Oasis” by X. de Planhol points out, it was only in the 10-year-interval census of population de Planhol, takes the exceptional loca- 1920s that the renaissance of the city data, showing a rapid fivefold popula- tion of the Isfahan oasis as the point of really began, with industrialization as tion growth from about 255,000 in 1956 departure for explaining the existence its main driving force (the first phase to 1,266,000 in 1996. of the city as one of the largest “desert dealt with the textile industry and the cities” in the world. Located at the second with the steel industry). PRE-ISLAMIC History center of Iran, the city was an obvious In his PRE-ISLAMIC HISTORY of Isfahan, J. Hansmann and EIr., explore candidate as a major transit mart and POPULATION node of communications and commer- Population of the city and the the available information about Isfahan cial activities. It lies also at the outlet of province is discussed in three sub- in pre-Islamic and Islamic sources. The a major river, the Zayanda-rud, whose entries: “Qajar Period” by H. Walcher authors note that in and water nourishes a huge foothill oasis examines the population estimates of earliest Islamic sources, Isfahan is pri- that has provided the basis for a signifi- a number of western observers who marily the name of a province. Use of cant urban agglomeration since ancient visited Isfahan in the 17th century and the name “Isfahan” for the city has been times. The volume of water available reported that the city was the largest in dated in the Islamic period from the 8th from the Zayanda-rud was substantially all of Safavid Persia and estimated the century onward. The Middle Persian increased with the completion in 1954 population of Isfahan as ranging from geography Shahrestaniha-ye Iran re- of the Kuhrang tunnel, a project dating 200,000 to 500,000. The first official cords that the provincial capital of Jey back to Shah Tahmasp I, to transfer the population census of Isfahan was con- was built by ; and waters of the upper Karun into the river. ducted in 1870, showing a population this opinion is repeated by the early Is- De Planhol also explores the distribu- size of 76,000. A more reliable census lamic writers. In the Persian translation tion of water resources based on rules of Isfahan, carried out during the pe- of the local history of Isfahan, codified in the Safavid era. riod of 1939-41, revealed a population however, the city was founded before In his overview of “Historical of 204,000 for the city. “Population the period of the legendary Iranian hero Jamshid; it suffered much destruction from , was restored by Queen Khomani (Homay), the daughter of Bahman, son of Esfandiar, and was left unharmed by Alexander. Under the Sasanians the province of Spahan extended from Hamadan to the borders of Kerman and from Ray and Qomes to the borders of Fars and Khuzestan.

LOCAL HISTORIOGRAPHY; Noting that Isfahan is exceptional in the number and variety of works of local historiography among Persiaʼs major urban centers, J. Paul exam- ines these works in two periods: the pre-Mongol (and in particular the pre- Aerial view of Meydan-e Naqsh-e Jahan, from Saljuq) period, and the 19th century. ISFAHAN X. MONUMENTS The author classifies the works of local 3 CIS Newsletter

historiography about Isfahan into two agenda. distinct literary genres: the biographi- cal dictionary, and the adab-oriented THE PAHLAVI PERIOD AND POST-REVO- local history. LUTION ERA H. Borjian contributes an outline MEDIEVAL PERIOD of the history of Isfahan during the H. Kamaly presents Isfahanʼs pre- Pahlavi period and Post-Revolution Safavid history from the 7th century on Era as well as a survey of “Modern by pointing out alternating phases of Economy and Industries.” He notes that urbanization and de-urbanization. Peri- the Isfahan of the Reza Shah period saw ods of urbanization witnessed the rapid Aliqapu Palace, from the consolidation of central authority rise in construction and settlement, ISFAHAN X. MONUMENTS by constraining two powerful socio- increased volume of trade, and literary a shift in that direction that had begun political forces: the Shiite clergy and activity. De-urbanization resulted in under the Saljuqs. A new royal square, the Bakhtiari Khans. Furthermore, the depopulation, dilapidation of construc- the Meydan-e Naqsh-e Jahan, formed modern urban planning carried out dur- tions, a nomadic pastoral economy, the fulcrum of this development. The ing this period changed the old layout of and marked cultural decline. The first outline of the meydan and the adjacent the city. The crowning achievement of century of the Islamic era marked a Qaysariya bazaar was begun in 1601, this period, however, was industrializa- period of de-urbanization. However, while the Chahar Bagh as well as tion, most notably the expansion of the the process of conversion to Islam the Shaikh Lotf-Allah mosque were textile industry which grew so success- which intensified during the Abbasid designed in 1602. In the year 1603, fully that Isfahan became known as the Revolution and the Persianization of the the shops, the , the bath- “Manchester of Persia.” Following the Islamic empire, went hand in hand with houses, and the coffeehouses around the occupation of Persia by Allied forces a trend of urbanization. It climaxed in meydan were completed. The Masjed-e in September 1941, Isfahan became the 11th and 12th centuries when Isfahan Shah, anchoring the southern end of a locus of struggle between different was the capital of the Saljuq Empire. the square, was begun in 1611. In later local powers. Nomadic and clerical Urban institutions declined rapidly, and years more construction activity took influence resurfaced and the pro-Soviet massive depopulation ensued on the eve place, mostly involving the palaces. Tudeh Party entrenched itself in the city, of the Mongol invasion. Short-lived leading the labor movement of 1941-47, reforms brought about reconstructive THE QAJAR PERIOD which became a political tradition of the activity and urban-revival, but the H. Walcher examines the major city during subsequent decades. weakening authority of the Ilkhans political, social, and economic changes Another politically eventful pe- ushered in a long-lasting phase of which occurred in Isfahan during the riod for Isfahan occurred during the urban decline and reduced the region Qajar period, including: the loss of nationalization of the Anglo-Persian to an agricultural tax-farm harvested its status as the royal capital and its Oil Company, reflected in the appear- by nomadic warlords. Finally, Timur transformation into a major provincial ance in the city of 70 to 80 periodicals, razed the city and its countryside to city comparable to, and in competition mostly politically charged newspapers, the ground. Fifteenth-century Isfahan with, , , or Mashad; the from 1950 to 1953. The period saw the had about 50,000 inhabitants, and it attempts by a succession of governors to Tudeh Party organize a series of strikes took several generations for it to reach gain control of its political and commer- in Isfahan, while the popularity of the its apogee as one of the most splendid cial affairs, culminating with Zell-al- National Front was reflected in the cities of the pre-modern world under Soltanʼs three decades of authoritarian drastic repercussions prime minister Shah Abbas the Great. rule in the latter part of the 19th century; Mosaddeqʼs resignation in July 1952 the restoration of Isfahanʼs status as the had in Isfahan. THE SAFAVID PERIOD countryʼs authoritative center of Shiism, The period of 1953-78 was one of R. Matthee explores the history highlighted by the direct influence en- sustained prosperity, marked by social of the city under the Safavids in four joyed by the ulama in urban politics; the and economic progress. The national sections: Isfahan under Shah Ismail and loss of its position as Persiaʼs preemi- economic boom of 1953-59 resulted in Shah Tahmasb, when the city served nent center of industry during the 17th the expansion of Isfahanʼs textile indus- as the provincial capital; Isfahan under century and its resurrection as a major try and other privately sponsored fac- Shah Abbas when it flourished as the commercial center, with a crucial posi- tories manufacturing consumer goods of the empire, and when tion in the growing international trade for local and national markets. But a the city administration substantively through the expansion of cash crops profound transformation of production expanded; and finally the decline of (particularly opium), and commercial systems and social relationships came Isfahan in the late Safavid period and its control as the transit mart on the trade with the White Revolution and the two fall under Shah Soltan Hosayn. Matthee routes connecting Tehran to the Persian successful economic plans in the period notes that the idea of turning Isfahan Gulf. She also discusses a key role 1963-73, when Isfahan emerged as a into a new capital must have come to played by Isfahan in the boycott against major industrial center in the country Shah Abbas shortly after his accession the British Tobacco Regie, in contrast with a large steel mill, cement and sugar in 1587. Isfahanʼs newly acquired sta- to its role during the Constitutional factories, an oil refinery, and defense tus found expression in the construction Revolution, when the city, despite the and petrochemical industries. The of a new governmental and commercial 1909 Bakhtiari occupation, followed construction of the Shah Abbas dam center southwest of the existing one, in an ambiguous, self-interested political Continued on page 6 CIS Newsletter 4

other aspects of Iranian culture. He also GALA BENEFIT DINNER has plans for the establishment of a cen- NEW YORK - MAY 5, 2007 ter for Iranian culture in Dushanbe, the Continued from page 1 capital of Tajikistan. Among his other plans to promote Iranian culture are a Board of Trustees of the Encyclopædia law for eight years at the National Uni- large center including a library, a Zoro Iranica Foundation, Dr. Akbar Gha- versity in Tehran, without abandoning, - hary, Vice-Chairman of the Board, Mr. however, his interest in Iranian history astrian temple, a conference room, and classroom spaces for teaching on the Mehdi Metghalchi, Mrs. Sedigheh Ra- and studies, about which he Zoroastrian faith and stegar, and Mr. Mohammad Mohseni, delivered many lectures and wrote a to be placed at the disposal of the Inter all Trustees of the Foundation. number of articles. - The program will begin at 6:30 In 1956 he married Mehrafzun national Zoroastrian Association. (black tie) with a cocktail reception that Firuzgar. Of their two children, Man- continues until 7:45, when the guests dana teaches biochemistry in MIT and will take their seats in the splendid Yassamane is a writer and translator, Dr. Akbar Ghahary, an industrial- Rotunda of Columbia University, in the living in Florida. Dr. Sassanfar was ist and executive in the manufacturing middle of campus. After welcoming re- later appointed by the Iranian govern- sector, is the CEO and Chairman of the marks by Dr. Maryam Safai, Governor ment as an international referee in Board of SAFAS Corporation, an equity Corzine of New Jersey will say a few matters of transport, centered in Zurich, partner with General Electric Capital words. At 8:15 Prof. Switzerland, and he was also elected as Corporation. He was born in 1942 in will very briefly talk about the mission, an economic advisor in the European Rafsanjan, Iran. In 1957 he received nature and method of Encyclopædia Union (1977). his undergraduate degree in Mechani- Iranica. This is followed, at 8:35, by After the 1979 upheavals in Iran, cal Engineering from Tehran Univer- a musical performance by the noted he chose to settle in Paris, following sity and his Masters degree in 1962 in composer and pianist, Mrs. Tania which he became a member of the Plastic Engineering from Aryamehr Eshaghoff and artistic dance perfor- Lawyers Association of France. After (now Sharif) University in Tehran. He mances by Felipe and Carolina Telona, 25 years in his law practice, he recently earned his Doctorate in Polymer Design world champion Latin and ballroom announced his retirement. & Engineering from Lowell University, dancers. At 8:55, Mr. Ansary, Dr. Sassanfarʼs profound interest Massachusetts, in 1979. Mr. Khosrow Eghbal, Mr. Mahmoud in the Zoroastrian religion led him to A member of the American Chemi- Khayami, and Mr. Khosrow Semnani serious research on the , the cal Society and Society of Plastic will be honored (see their biographies, hymns of . His writings and Engineers, Dr. Ghahary owns several starting on p. 5) his lectures have centered on Zoroas- international patents, including eight Dinner will be served at 9:30, trian philosophy, its compatibility with U.S. patents mostly in polymers and followed by a dance performance by reason, its moral dualism, its innovative advanced composites. Sanaz Partovi. After dessert and cof- belief in the freedom of individuals in Dr. Ghahary has been an active fee, the live auction begins at 10:50, choosing their deeds, and their respon- member of the Iranian-American com- conducted by Mr. Max G. Bernheimer, sibility for their actions. His studies in munity for the last thirty years. His Senior Vice-President of Department of this field have resulted in the publica- commitment to serve cultural and hu- Antiquities at Christieʼs. Her Majesty, tion of two volumes of books, one a manitarian endeavors has engaged him Queen Farah Pahlavi, will grace the new translation of 30 (Gathas) in extensive charitable work with vari- occasion with a brief address. in 2000, and a second book consisting ous cultural organizations. He has been The program ends with acknowl- of both a literal and a fluent translation the co-founder and a former President of edgments by Dr. Maryam Safai. Music of seven chapters of the Gathas, with the Persian Cultural and Humanitarian and dancing follows until 1:30 AM. Dr. ample philological annotations, which Association and co-founder and Presi- Maryam Ghavami and Ms. Marjan was published and reprinted in France dent of the Persian Cultural Founda- Rahimian will serve as the Masters of and once in Iran with an Introduction tion. He has also been a Trustee of the Ceremonies. by the well-known scholar of Zoroas- Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation since trianism, Prof. Duchesne-Guillemin. 1999, its Treasurer from 2000 to 2006, He is now working on the remaining and its Vice-Chairman since 2006. He MAJOR DONORS chapters of the Gathas that he hopes has also been a constant financial sup- will be completed and delivered to the porter of Encyclopædia Iranica. Continued from page 1 printers by the end of this year. He is also co-founder and Treasurer However, at the age of 25 he entered Dr. Sassanfar firmly believes that of the Iranian-American Political Ac- the legal profession and was chosen all Iranians need to be well acquainted tion Committee (IAPAC). Among his as a member of the Regulatory Court with the philosophy and traditions of beneficiaries is the Institute of Persian of the Association of Iranian Lawyers. ancient Iran, to cultivate their historical Studies and the International Society of In 1955 he traveled to Geneva, Swit- Iranian identity, and to preserve and Iranian Studies, which celebrated his zerland, to study international law, promote their cultural heritage, no mat- various assistances to the Society in its but later transferred to Paris where he ter where they live. To these ends he annual meeting of 2006 in Boston. received a doctorate in Law (1962), has instituted the “Aryan House of Cul- Dr. Ghahary is married, and his before returning to Tehran to continue ture” in Ist Roshan, a city in Khojand, three children, Azam, Fati, and Salar his law practice. In the meantime he Tajikistan. It will soon be ready to teach are also active members of the Iranian- taught administrative and international and history as well as American community in New Jersey. 5 CIS Newsletter

Khosrow B. Semnani has been the Chairman of the Encyclopædia NEW YORK GALA HONORS CHAIRMEN OF Iranica Foundation since 2005. He THE ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA FOUNDATION was born in Mashad, Iran in 1947. He Born in Mashad in 1910, Khosrow. completed his elementary and high The May 5th Gala Benefit Din- Eghbal graduated from the judiciary school education in Iran and later ner at Columbia University will honor branch of Tehran Universityʼs Law studied English in England. In 1972, Encyclopædia Iranica Foundationʼs School in 1935. He was then employed Mr. Semnani received a B.S. in chem- Chairmen, past and present. The hon- orees include Mr. Hushang Ansary istry and physics from Westminster by the Ministry of Justice where he (1990-1991) Mr. Khosrow Eghbal College in Salt Lake City, Utah. He rose to the rank of (1991-2001) Mr. Mahmoud Khay- then continued his education at the judge, heading the ami (2002-2005), and Mr. Khosrow seventh branch of University of Utah where he received B. Semnani (2005-present). a Masters of Engineering Administra- the circuit court of Hushang Ansary moved to the Tehran Province. tion Degree in 1977. Mr. Semnani United States in 1979 after a long was later employed in the copper In 1942, frustrated mining and the electrical/chemical and distinguished and angered by industry for several years. He formed career in Iran Allied interfer- S.K. Hart Engineering in 1980, where he served ence in the politi- providing consulting services in the as Minister of cal and governmental affairs of Iran, he Economic Af- environmental protection industry. founded the Peykar Party, an outspoken fairs and Finance, During the period of 1984 through nationalist party that advocated the and led a team of 1987 he was involved in residential evacuation of Iran by the Allied forces technocrats and and Iranian independence. Simultane- and commercial land development economists dur- and other real estate activities. In ously, he began publishing Nabard 1987 he founded and operated Envi- ing Iranʼs drive to modernization in newspaper as the voice of the Peykar rocare of Utah, a company he built up the 1970s, culminating in the doubling Party. to become the largest nuclear waste of the mean national income within a Eghbalʼs political ideology landed processing and disposal company in decade and creating millions of new him in prison for six months after pro- the country. jobs. He also served as President and British and Russian agents had him and Mr. Semnani has been involved in CEO of National Iranian Oil Company. others arrested during the war on the various charitable activities for many His other positions included the post pre-text that they were pro-German. years and, together with his wife, of Iranian Ambassador to the United No sooner was he freed from prison, Ghazaleh, he founded the Semnani States. however, than he resumed his political Foundation to facilitate their philan- He is currently Chairman of the activities. His newspaper Nabard was thropic work. This foundation has been Parman Group, a Houston-based, often shut down but he would simply involved in supporting many Iranian privately held global investment en- begin publishing under a different terprise with extensive interests in causes and cultural and religious pro- name, such as Iran-e ma and Daria. oilfield equipment manufacturing, grams, including the Encyclopædia After the revolution, Eghbal settled leisure industries, international trade Iranica, and is working with programs in Washington D.C. His time in the and real estate. United States has seen his energies and worldwide to benefit several women Hushang Ansary sits on the Board and childrenʼs organizations. Mr. resources devoted tirelessly to causes of Overseers of the Weill Cornell Medi- dear to his heart, from support of such Khosrow Semnani has been a 30-year cal College, is a John Harvard Fellow, resident of Utah. He and his wife and publications as Ruzegar-e Now and and a member of the Senior Advisory Mehregan to his sustained involvement their three sons, Taymour, Rodmehr, Board of the Shorenstein Barone Center and Jahangere take special pride in in the Encyclopædia Iranica project, for the Press, Politics and Public Policy which began in 1989. In 1990 he was their Iranian heritage, and have tried at the Kennedy School of Government. to be spokesmen and advocates of the elected Chairman of the Encyclopædia He serves also on the Presidentʼs Coun- Iranica Foundationʼs Board of Trustees, loving, intelligent and kind people of cil of the Center for Middle East Public Iran. Among his charitable works may a position which he held with strong Policy at RAND Institute. commitment and dedication until be mentioned the establishment of a free Mr. Ansary and his family are clinic in Salt Lake City named after his 2001, when he stepped down due to deeply dedicated to philanthropic com- health concerns, and was elected as grandmother, Maliheh, dedicated to the mitments. Among his philanthropic and the Foundationʼs Honorary Chairman. health needs of the greater city area. cultural efforts may be mentioned his Mr. Eghbalʼs singular generosity and His humanitarian works has a wide establishment of Fellowships at Har- belief in the Encyclopædiaʼs mission range and extends to Africa, to vard and Texas A & M Universities, the and shrines, and to assisting students, founding of the James Baker Institute has found expression in his pledge of among others. Mr. Semnani has been a for Public Policy, projects at the Weill $2 million from his estate to the endow- generous trustee of the Encyclopædia Cornell Medical College and the Texas ment fund of the Encyclopædia Iranica Iranica Foundation for over a decade. Heart Institute, as well as his support of Foundation. the Encyclopædia Iranica . CIS Newsletter 6

Mahmoud Khayami, the well- EIR FASCICLE 1 known industrialist, financier, and philanthropist, was born in 1930 in Continued from page 3 Mashad. After moving to Tehran he was involved for on the Zayandarud, and the extension 11 years in de- of the national railroad network into veloping Iranʼs the province had a strong impact on its auto industry economy. The city was outfitted with and eventually recreational clubs, theaters, and sports founded the Iran stadiums. As the city grew into a tourist National Compa- center, traditional handicrafts flourished ny in partnership once again. with his brother, Isfahan played an important role in the Islamic Revolution by mobilizing Ahmad Khayami (who later formed sporadic urban riots, demonstrations, his own company). Iran National was and strikes. As with other cities in destined to become the largest industrial Persia, Isfahan experienced a post- complex in Iran. One of the leading revolutionary decade of hardship and champions of Iranʼs industrialization regression. The 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War of the 1960s-70s, Khayami began the participation rate from Isfahan was ex- production of the popular Peykan cars ceptionally high, reflected in countless in 1967. He initiated the increasing ex- streets and alleys bearing the names port of Iranian cars, buses, and lorries of war martyrs. Isfahan also had its Golabduzi; story of Joseph, from ISFAHAN XIII. CRAFTS to neighbouring countries and Eastern share of war refugees from Khuzestan, Europe in the 1970s. By 1979, 136,000 reported to be in the region of 160,000 anew during the Saljuq era and became cars were being produced annually, and in the province in 1982. in time the most venerated mosque in Iran National employed over 20,000 ISFAHAN MONUMENTS the city until the 17th century, when a workers in Tehran, Mashad, Tabriz, rival was raised and Shiraz. S. Babaie explores the monuments of Isfahan in six sub-sections: A Histori- by the Safavid Shah Abbas the Great. Khayami also founded the Bank of Nearly every significant architectural Iranian Industries, the largest of its kind cal Survey, Palaces, Mosques, Madra- sas, , and a Bibliography. In and decorative trend of the medieval in Iran, which aimed to bolster Iranian her introductory remarks she notes that period in Persian history found its mon- manufacturing. He also established a Isfahanʼs monuments developed during umental representation in this mosque. technical school at Iran National for three major periods in the Islamic era: Moreover, in its architectural evolution training skilled industrial workers. first, the early medieval period under from an Arab type to a four- In 1979, following the upheavals the Abbasid Caliphate and Buyid pa- ayvan courtyard focused mosque plan, in Iran, he settled in London, manag- tronage; second, under the Saljuqs; this mosque exemplifies the maturation ing the distribution of Mercedes-Benz and, finally, under Shah Abbas I and of the Persian style mosque. The author cars in parts of both England and the his successors. also surveys Masjed-e Shah, Masjed-e United States, as well as continuing his Babaie begins her survey of royal Ali, Masjed-e Shaykh Lotfallah, and philanthropic activities. He has been a palaces and pavilions by noting that Masjed-e Hakim in some detail. champion of many cultural causes, and they were built during the Safavid pe- Babaie discusses two main ma- a considerable number of individuals riod, including the Ali Qapu, the -e drasas of Isfahan: the earliest extant and institutions in need of assistance Tawila, the Chehel Sotun and the Hasht in Isfahan is the 1325 Emami have benefited from his charitable Behesht, Hazar Jarib, Aʼina-khana, and Madrasa. As in the Persian mosque donations. Farahaabad. The royal precinct and its type, this and most other in Persia follow the four-ayvan courtyard- Among his recent support of edu- palaces were at the heart of this impe- centered plan with rows of apartments. cational causes was the establishment rial enterprise. Access to the precinct was regulated through gates that were Notwithstanding the symbolic and of over 20 Mahmoudieh Technical ritualistic significance of this madrasa, Institutes in Khorasan. strategically positioned to enunciate their multifarious imperial functions. the most famous madrasa of Isfahan In recognition of his philanthropic is the unparalleled Soltani Madrasa work, Pope John Paul II made him Together, these gates communicated through their architectural mediation (Royal Madrasa) which was the crown- a “Knight Commander of the Royal of functions the relationship between ing achievement of the reign of the last Order of Francis I.” the Safavid household, the locus of Safavid Shah Soltan-Hosayn. Mr. Khayami served as Chairman power and authority, and the denizens of Two major bridges, the Allahverdi of the Encyclopædia Iranica Founda- Isfahan and, by extension, of the entire Khan and the Khaju Bridge tion from 2001 to 2005, when he was Safavid dominion. were added during the reigns of Shah elected the Honorary Chairman of the Isfahan is known historically for Abbas the Great and Shah Abbas II. Foundation. its large number of mosques and it ac- A third, known as Pol-e Juʼi or the quired early in its Islamic history a large Rivulet Bridge, a finely wrought stone mosque (Friday Mosque) that was built footbridge with a watercourse running 7 CIS Newsletter

at its center, was built in 1657 by Shah discussed in some detail. Abbas II. ISFAHAN BAZAAR ISFAHAN SCHOOL OF PAINTING AND CAL- In his entry “The Royal bazaar LIGRAPHY of Isfahan,” W. Floor discusses the M. Farhad treats the “Isfahan bazaarʼs establishment, development, school of Painting and Calligraphy,” architecture, and evolving role and referring to the works of art during the function. Created by Shah Abbas 17th century and, more specifically, to in 1603 the royal bazaar formed the the first half of the century when the economic center of Isfahan until the works of Reza Abbasi and his followers mid-20th century, and remains its major flourished in the city. In the second half commercial center today. It is one of of the 17th century, many Isfahani art- the best preserved examples of a large, ists departed from Reza Abbasiʼs style enclosed and covered bazaar complex of painting and began experimenting that was characteristic of cities in the with Europeanized pictorial concepts, Middle East. The bazaar is home to such as modeling and shading. Their both itinerant and stationary retail ac- distinct work can be described as the tivities, and private and public services second phase of the “Isfahan” school that include mosques, bathhouses, cof- of painting. The author argues that feehouses, public kitchens, and simple one of the distinguishing features of inns. Wholesale, commissionaires, View of Isfahan bazaar, from the 17th-century Isfahani style is its export and import, finance and credit, ISFAHAN XII. BAZAAR format which, in turn, encouraged the crafts and trades as well as related popular meeting points to exchange development of new techniques and brokerage activities are to be found news, gossip, and to listen to poetry subject matter. Artists began to focus there. Although much of the wholesale and storytellers. The ʻroyal bazaarʼ is increasingly on individual drawings and import and export trade has moved no longer royal and under increasing and paintings, most of which no longer away, and modern Western style shops pressure from modern developments related to a specific text, as in the case and supermarkets have drawn away and demands, but despite the ongoing of manuscript paintings. Many were as- some of the bazaarʼs business, it has deterioration and even disappearance sembled in albums (moraqqaʼ), togeth- found a new commercial function, of some of its parts, there remain many er with calligraphic examples (qetʼa). namely to serve the tourist industry. areas in good state with functioning Although such compositions date back The bazaar complex consists of a shops, offices, and stalls, evidence that to the late 15th-century, they became a number of buildings, generally referred the bazaar of Isfahan is still vibrant and viable alternative to manuscript illustra- to as ʻbazaarʼ or when smaller as bazar- a mainstay of the city. tions only after the 17th century. The cha. Next there are the sarays or cara- works of Reza Abbasi, Moin Mosvvar, vanserais, and their smaller version, the ISFAHAN CRAFTS Mohammad Zaman and Mir Emad are so-called timchas. All these buildings H. Borjian begins his treatment of are interconnected by covered market the Crafts of Isfahan by pointing out that streets (rastaha) and passageways the city has maintained its position as a (dalanha). From an architectural stand- major center for traditional crafts in Per- point, five different types of caravanse- sia from the Safavid period to the pres- rais and six different types of timchahs ent. The crafts of Isfahan encompass are found in the royal bazaar, reflecting textiles, carpets, metalwork, woodwork, different historical periods. Many ceramics, painting, and inlay works of buildings in the bazaar were decorated, various kind. The work is carried out either by mural paintings and/or by tile in different settings including small decorations. The remaining decorations industrial and bazaar workshops, in the show a large variety of geometrical de- homes of craftsmen and women, and in signs, all variations on cross, diamond, rural cottage industries. and graded patterns. Life in the bazaar Isfahanʼs crafts are clearly rooted was not always about business. There in the cityʼs royal past, but to suggest are many madrasas, mosques, takiyahs, a direct and uninterrupted link back to and saqqa-khanas in the bazaar, where the Safavid era would be too simplistic the population of the bazaar recite their an assumption. The passing of skills daily prayers and participate in religious from one generation to the next has ceremonies. Often there is a relation- been disrupted many times, beginning ship between one or more guilds and a with the Afghan invasion of 1722, and particular mosque. There is also time later by wars, famines, plagues, tribal for relaxation, food and drink, to which pillages, and the resulting depopulation. end, apart from the bath-houses, there During the Qajar period, there was a are all kinds of itinerant and shop-based steady outflow of skill and talent from Painting by Reza Abbasi, from sellers of a large variety of food and ISFAHAN XI. ISFAHAN to Tehran and Tabriz, where the PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY drink. Moreover, the coffee-houses are Qajar court and administration were CIS Newsletter 8

cityʼs 200,000 inhabitants depended on thrifty. Perhaps what natives of Isfahan the textile industry for their livelihood. are most famous for in Persian folklore While textiles remained the economic is their sense of humor and ability to mainstay of Isfahan for decades, a new produce clever repartees. Riddles, short wave of industrialization began in the folktales, and satires in verse abound in 1960s, leading to the construction of Isfahanʼs verbal folklore. steel factories, cement and sugar mills, Isfahanʼs reputation as a land of an oil refinery, and defense and petro- abundance has been explained by the chemical industries, which helped rank legend of the refusal of its people to Isfahan as an industrialized conglomer- assist Nimrud in his rebellion against ate second only to Tehran. God. Many prominent historical and legendary figures are said to have EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS OF hailed from Isfahan or to have met ISFAHAN their end at or near the city. According The portal of , from M. Borjian and H. Borjian begin to these legends, Anushirvan was born ISFAHAN XIII. CRAFTS their article with the advent of modern in as was Mosesʼ pharaoh, education in the city in the mid-19th Nebuchadnezzar, Bahram Gur, and the major consumers and patrons of various century by French and British mis- Prophetʼs companion Salman Farsi. crafts. Equally detrimental to the crafts sionaries, who were often in competi- The legendary king is of Isfahan were cheaper mass-produced tion with one another as well as with said to have been the first king to have European merchandise that flooded the the Armenian community of Julfa, and held his coronation ceremony there, and Persian market in ever-increasing quan- then discuss the successive expansion also to have disappeared in snow near tities throughout the 19th century. of schools during the 20th century. The Isfahan at the end of his reign. Like- backbone of Isfahanʼs higher educa- wise, Ardashir Babakan, the founder ISFAHAN MODERN ECONOMY AND IN- tion are the University of Isfahan and of the Sasanian dynasty, was crowned DUSTRIES the Isfahan Industrial University, but king of Iran there, and it was also he H. Borjian, in “Modern Economy a dozen higher institutions, chiefly who named the cityʼs famous river of the Province,” covers the labor force, Daneshgah-e Azad (Free Univer- Zayandarud. water management, farming, animal sity), have been opened more recently husbandry, tourism, and transportation throughout the province. The section on ISFAHAN JEWISH COMMUNITY and energy infrastructures. While the Cultural Affairs discusses the image of A. Netzer begins his treatment of geographical distribution of economic Isfahan in the works of novelists such the Jewish Community of Isfahan by activities within the province is highly as Jamalzadeh and Hushang Golshiri, stating that “The Talmud ascribes the uneven, Isfahan as a whole has an both of whom were born and raised average economy within Persia, with in the city, and further introduces the inefficient agriculture, poorly-trained cityʼs newspapers, literary reviews, and industrial labor, and substandard roads. literary circles, including the influential A major advancement was the con- Jong-e Esfahan and its affiliates. De- struction of the Kuhrang dam-tunnel spite witnessing a brain drain in favor to divert the headwaters of the Karun of the capital city of Tehran, Isfahan river into Zayandarud, and the erec- remains a hub for traditional artists in tion of another dam on the latter river, a wide variety of arts including music, both projects leading to the expansion painting, theater, decoration, and archi- of cropland. In the energy sector, tecture, thanks partly to its position as a Isfahan plays a major role nationwide center of the tourist industry. by importing natural gas and petroleum through pipelines from Khuzestan, and ISFAHANI IN THE MIRROR OF FOLKLORE converting the natural gas in thermal AND LEGEND power plants into electricity, which is In his survey of Isfahani folklore, then transmitted through a network of M. Omidsalar notes that the systematic towers to other provinces; likewise, oil collection of the folklore of Isfahan is is processed in the largest refinery of mostly indebted to Amirqoli Aminiʼs the country near Isfahan, then shipped Dastanha-ye amthal-e esfahani, pub- through pipelines to other cities. lished in 1945. Aminiʼs approach was H. Borjian, in “Industries of Isfahan to interview mostly illiterate infor- City,” begins with an overview of the mants. Isfahanʼs folklore has the rich main periods of industrial development diversity found in those areas of Iran and then discusses Isfahanʼs major where different cultures and popula- modern industries. By 1941 there were tions made contact. Natives of Isfahan at least ten large, privately-sponsored, have themselves become objects of gen- spinning and weaving mills in the city, eral Persian folklore from very early on. They have been portrayed in folklore Silver, engraved ewer, from employing some 11,000 workers. Bor- ISFAHAN XIII. CRAFTS jian shows that about a quarter of the as very clever, business-minded, and 9 CIS Newsletter

foundation of Isfahan to Jews exiled Persian, but “we found (him).” Lexi- by Nebuchadnezzar.” Muslim geogra- cally, this is probably a recent borrow- GALA BENEFIT phers report the tradition that the town ing from Persian, as the original form INNER IN UBAI of Yahudiya (lit. the town of Jews), is be-mun-yuss in Gazi and be-mun-yo D D the center of Isfahan, was so called in Isfahani. MAY 5, 2007 because the exiled Jews of Babylonia chose to settle in that area. According to Ketab-e anusi, the Jews of Isfahan PERSIAN MANUSCRIPTS were severely persecuted under the Safavids. The turning point for the IN FACSIMILE Jews of Isfahan was the opening of the Alliance School in 1901. In 1948 there One of the most valuable scholarly were an estimated of 10,000 Jews living ventures in recent years is the series Per- in Isfahan, the majority of whom have sian Manuscripts in Facsimile, edited by emigrated to Israel. At the beginning of Prof. Afshar and Dr. Mahmoud the Islamic regime in Iran, an estimated Omidsalar, who are both frequent 3,000 Jews lived in Isfahan, a figure that Mr. Anoushirvan Rouhani and contributors as well as Consultant Edi- Mr. Aref Kia has declined to 1,500 in 2003. tors to the EIr. The facsimile project is entirely A Gala Benefit Dinner in Dubai, ISFAHANI DIALECTS funded by the generosity of the Soci- arranged by the Friends of the Four entries on the linguistic situ- ety for Promotion of Persian Culture ation of Isfahan Province appear in this Encyclopædia Iranica in Dubai, was (SPPC; www.sppcindiana.org) in India- held on February 15, 2007. It was orga- fascicle: GEOGRAPHY OF THE MEDIAN napolis. The series makes facsimile edi- nized by a Committee that was headed DIALECTS by H. Borjian; PROVINCIAL tions of important Persian manuscripts, by the dedicated and indefatigable Mr. DIALECTS, JEWISH DIALECT, and GAZI along with detailed introductions in Manouchehr Houshmand. It proved DIALECT, all by D. Stilo. Stilo first gives a general picture of the linguistic Persian and English, available to the a very successful Gala, with a most at- history, dialect geography, and basic scholarly community. In cases where tractive program. It was attended by Ms. grammatical features of the dialects the manuscripts have been printed, each Simin Behbehani, the most outstand- of Isfahan province, concentrating page is cross-referenced to the printed ing living poet of the Persian language, on the immediate vicinity of Isfahan edition. who read some of her poems to the great city. He points out that these speech Four volumes have been published applause of the audience. Mr. Anoush- forms are neither dialects of Persian so far: Mojmal al-tawarikh waʼl-qesas irvan Rouhani, the celebrated Persian nor derivations from Pahlavi/Middle (Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, HS or 2371; pianist and composer, was at the piano Persian. They are in fact derived from 2001); Mojmal al-aqwal fiʼ-hekam and Mr. Aref Kia, the noted Persian vocalist and actor, participated in the Median, a source that is more ancient waʼl-amthal (a holograph from Mo- and archaic than Pahlavi. Borjian docu- musical performance. The program also haddes-e Ormaviʼs collection; 2002), included a successful auction. Among ments the geography of these modern Hezar hekayat-e sufiyan (from Prof. Median speech forms in over 100 the items auctioned was a photograph Iraj Afsharʼs private collection; 2003), of Simin Behbehani, which inspired locales in Isfahan province and dem- and the (British Library onstrates that they were formerly even highly competitive bidding. MS Add, 21.103 in 2005). The manu- Among the attractions of the more wide-spread, possibly reaching script of Tarikh-e Wassaf (a holograph as many as 200 locales. He points out program was a traditional storytelling from Nuruosmaniye Library MS no. (naqqali) performed by one of the two that these dialects follow historical 3207) is forthcoming. Prof. Afshar and topographical divisions, stemming surviving traditional storytellers, who and Dr. Omidsalar have also initiated from their location in and around the recounted the Battle of and the Karkas mountain range, an offshoot a series devoted to the publication of White Demon. Earlier in the program, of the Zagros. Borjian then describes Persian and Arabic medical manuscripts Prof. Ehsan Yarshater talked about the two distinct areas of Median settle- called Folia Medica Islamica. This the significance of Persian culture, its ment: the eastern area, including the series is generously financed by Mr. contribution to world civilization, and boluks of Jarquya, Rudasht and Kuh- Reza Bonabi MD, in California. The the Encyclopædia Iranicaʼs mission of paya and a western area with only five first volume in this series, Hedayat researching, recording, and disseminat- Median-speaking communities in and al-motaʼallemin fiʼl-tebb (Bodleian ing the facts of this culture in an ac- around Isfahan city. Stilo then gives Library; Pers. c.37) is scheduled to ap- curate, unbiased, and reliable manner. two separate entries on the dialects of pear shortly, and an English translation He emphasized the total independence this western area: Gazi and the Jewish by Drs. Bonabi and Omidsalar is being of the Encyclopædia from any affilia- dialect of Isfahan. He demonstrates that prepared. Another volume in this series, tion, whether political, ideological, or religious. not only is the lexical composition of an Arabic treatise on diabetes (ca. 12th The Gala attested to the interest these speech forms quite distinct from century CE) with a Persian translation Persian, but that their grammar is also of the Iranian population of Dubai in by Mr. Khajehdehi MD, is also in its Persian culture and art, as did their quite different. For example, in Isfah- final stages of production in Iran. ani Jewish, a verb such as peyda-mun enthusiastic participation in the auction kart does not mean “he found us,” as in bidding. The Gala ended at 2:00 AM. CIS Newsletter 10

alization of public COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SEMINARS health. More spe- cifically, he looked ON IRANIAN STUDIES at the ways in which would question the proposition that the cholera, plague, and WRITING THE HISTORY revolution was a major event, one can influenza outbreaks OF 20TH CENTURY IRAN not construct a whole narrative of the changed Iranian On December 5, 2006, Ervand country around it—in part because we society between Abrahamian, distinguished Professor are now a quarter of a century removed the 1800s and the of History at the City University of New from it, and in part because much hap- 1940s. York, led discussion on the Problems of pened in Iran in the previous seventy- Initial sanitary improvements and Writing a History of 20th Century Iran. five years that were not directly relevant the growth of European medicine in He has recently completed A History of to the revolution. Iran occurred as part of its drive for Modern Iran for the Cambridge Univer- One way of solving the problem, military modernization. The creation sity Press series on the national histories Prof. Abrahamian, proposed, was to of Iran ʼs first secular academy of higher of the modern Middle East. focus on the state—on how the build- learning, coupled with the influx of Dr. Abrahamian began by noting ing towards a central government has European physician-instructors, played that historians in the past often com- transformed the country from a pre-state an important role in the eventual he- plained that it was difficult—even un- society in the late nineteenth century gemony of European medical theories feasible--to write an account of modern into the highly centralized state that ex- among the Iranian population. Faced with civic shortcomings, administra Iran due mainly to ists now at the beginning of the twenty- - the lack of archival first century. Such a narrative would tive decentralization, and financial illustrate how and why the state was paralysis, the Iranian government was, and source mate- built--with all its trials, tribulations, and however, unable to establish a viable rials. This griev- unforeseen consequences. It would also sanitary regime, and faced recurrent ance is no longer illustrate how the state has transformed epidemics throughout the nineteenth valid since we have society—creating new classes, new and twentieth centuries. In addition to gained access to a groups, and new social structures—and the severe mortality brought about by wide variety of new how these new forces, in turn, have pro these outbreaks, the recurrent epidemics materials in recent - also halted trade activities and contrib decades: archives duced new ideas and transformed old - ones—especially those of Shiʼism and uted to the general degradation of the such as those of the Public Record Of- Iranism. These new forces have also Iranian economy. These dramatic and fice, India Office, the State Department, put new pressures and demands on the devastating plagues became an impetus and British Petroleum; government state—especially demands for partici- for the evolution and acceptance of new statistics and official reports; mem- pation, democratization, and political medical knowledge, such as the germ oirs—over three hundred such books articulation. In other words, changes in theory of disease. Increasing aware- have been published in the last decade the political realm—which the Annales ness of the etiology of these illnesses, alone; and major oral history projects School terms the short duree, have cre- coupled with an understanding of how in the United States and Europe as ated deep-seated changes in the social best to prevent them, contributed to the well as in Iran. Therefore, a lack of realm--in the long duree. For an Iranian patriotic and radical rhetoric of reform sources is no longer a valid complaint; in 2006, the Persia of 1900 is an almost in Iran . if anything, we are now in danger of unrecognizable “foreign country.” Yet Dr. Afkhami concluded his talk by drowning in them. despite the distance, the major transfor- saying that during the first decade of the The real difficulty, Prof. Abraha- mations of the century can be accounted 20th century, Russian and British med- mian argued, lies elsewhere—in the for by the impact of the state on society- dling in Iranʼs quarantine establishment fundamental question of how to com- -for better or for worse. paralyzed Iranian sanitary institutions. bine narrative with analysis; description This situation was worsened by insta- with interpretation; and the story of the bility and destruction brought about century with an interpretative study of THE POLITICS OF UBLIC EALTH by the First World War, culminating in the country. In other words, in narrat- P H the 1918-19 influenza pandemic, the ing and analyzing how the country has On February 6, 2007, Dr. Amir deadliest outbreak in Iran ʼs history. moved from 1900 to 2000, what theme The trauma of influenza, coupled with and what thread does one follow—what Arsalan Afkhami, a Lecturer at Yale College, led a discussion on “Epidem- the demise of the Qajar and rise of the type of wide net does one cast that could Pahlavi dynasty, launched a period bring in the most important changes of ics, Nationalism, and the Politics of th of progress for Iranʼs sanitary estab- the century. If one was writing such Public Health in 19 Century Iran.” Dr. Afkhami began his talk by not- lishment through new organizations, a book in the early 1980s, the answer such as the Pasteur Institute, and the would have been obvious: one would ing that the evolution of public health in Iran is an important reflection of expansion of previously existing public hang oneʼs narrative on the 1979 Revo- health programs. Reza Shahʼs success lution, analyzing the events that led up the milestones and setbacks that have ultimately shaped its contemporary in- in establishing law and order, a healthy to and culminated in the revolution. fiscal policy, and a nationalist program In other words, the book would have stitutional landscape. His talk explored Iranʼs unique encounter with epidemics of revival allowed Iranians to harness been an interpretation of the longterm indigenous medical resources, to break causes of the revolution. Although few and its national quest for the institution- 11 CIS Newsletter

free of foreign sanitary restraints and, al-Din Shah (1848-96) would usually through effective administration and succumb and order better treatment of A LITERARY funding, to establish a national public the Jews, even if this meant abolishing health program. age old Muslim ordinances such as the LANDMARK inheritance law. If the legal status of the 19TH CENTURY IRAN AND Jews on the political level improved, Volumes VII and VIII of the Shah- ITS JEWISH MINORITY their religious and social status usually nameh edited by Dr. Djalal Khaleghi- remained stagnant, as they were still Motlagh have reached the Persian On March 6, 2007 Dr. Daniel mistreated and occasionally persecuted Heritage Foundation for printing. With Tsadik, a fellow at the Institute for Ad- even after the Shah pronounced the the publication of these two volumes vanced Judaic Studies at the University Jews to be the equals of their Muslim the work of a lifetime and the first truly of Pennsylvania, led the discussion on neighbors. This continued hardship de- critical edition of the Iranian national the topic of “Between Foreigners and rived from religious, social, economic, epic come to fruition, and the year 2007 Shiʼis: Nineteenth-Century Iran and its and political reasons. will witness the completion of one of Jewish Minority.” Overall, the story of Iranʼs Jews the editorial feats of the 20th and 21st Dr. Tsadik began his talk by es- and other religious minorities sharpens centuries. tablishing some basic data concerning our comprehension of processes that Available so far have been six vol- the Jews of Iran. Based on untapped swept over Iran and the Middle East in umes of the text and three volumes of archival material, the Jews seemed general. This story is as much about annotations. Within a matter of months to have numbered the Muslim majorityʼs encounter and all the eight volumes of the text and four around 40,000 out interplay with the West as it is about volumes of annotations will be placed of a population of the Jewish minority under Shiʼi Islam at the disposal of the lovers of Persian around 10 million at in modern times. literature. the outset of the 20th century. Although NEW BOOKS IN PRESS BY overall insignifi- cant numerically, PERSIAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION & CIS constituting around The Cumulative Index of al-Tabariʼs History (Volume 40), compiled by Alex 0.4 per cent of the population, they Popovkin under the supervision of Prof. Everett K. Rowson, with a Foreword sometimes had a higher percentage in by Ehsan Yarshater and a Preface by Prof. Rowson, SUNY Press, 2007. the larger cities, thereby making them a visible component in the cities. Jews Persian Painting were scattered all over Iran, but mostly Dr. Adel T. Adamova, Medieval Persian Painting: The Evolution of an Artistic in the western and central regions. Vision, edited by Profs. Michael Rogers and Doris Behrens-Abouseif, based on Focusing on the status of the Jews, Yarshater Lecture Series at the University of London, Persian Heritage Founda- Dr. Tsadik mentioned certain aspects of tion, 2007. Shiʼi law addressing the Jews and other religious minorities: laws of impurity, Cotton and Climate marriage, food, inheritance as well as Prof. Richard Bulliet, Cotton and Climate in Early Islamic Iran, based on Eshan dhimma concepts—all show that Jews, Yarshater Lecture Series at Harvard, Persian Heritage Foundation, 2007. and other religious minorities, had a legal status inferior to the Muslimsʼ. Persian Inscriptions on Works of Art This religious factor along with other Prof. Bernard OʼKane, The Appearance of Persian on Islamic Works of Art, political, economic, and social factors edited by Prof. Doris Behrens-Abouseif, based on Yarshater Lecture Series at the amounted to mistreatment, persecu- University of London, Persian Heritage Foundation, 2007 tions, blood-libel accusations, and forced conversions of Jews in the early decades of the Qajar rule (1786-1848). A History of in 16 Volumes However, during the latter part of the Volume I: General Introduction to Persian Literature, edited by Prof. J. T. P. de nineteenth century some change is dis- Bruijn, with a Foreword by Ehsan Yarshater. Ready to be printed. cerned. Scholars usually argue that the assistance of European Jewish figures Companion Volume I: The Literatures of Pre-Islamic Iran, edited by the late and organizations to their Iranian co- Prof. Ronald Emmerick and Prof. Maria Macuch. Ready to be printed. religionists helped the latter, improving their lot. Dr. Tsadik argued that, in addi- In Preparation tion, the great powers, mainly Britain, Volume II in two parts: Classical Persian Poetry, 800-1500, edited by Profs. extended support to the Jews through Ehsan Yarshater and William Hanaway. diplomatic channels. For diverse rea- sons, Britain would intercede on behalf Volume VII: Persian Literature Produced in the Indian Subcontinent, Anatolia, of the Jews, among other religious Central Asia (since the Uzbek conquest), and Judeo-Persian literature, edited by minorities, seeking their amelioration. Prof. John Perry. Faced with foreign pressure to treat im- partially his religious minorities, Nasir Volume VIII: Persian Historiography, edited by Dr. Charles Melville. CIS Newsletter 12

Notable Books on Iranian Studies Published by Bibliotheca Persica & Persian Heritage Foundation (Available from Eisenbrauns Inc.) ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT Please support research on Persian history and NOTES ON THE SHAHNAMEH civilization by making donations to Columbia Uni- (YADDASHTHA-YE SHAHNAMEH) versity or the Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation, both By Dr. Djalal Khaleghi-Motlagh, volumes 1, 2 & 3. No tax exempt organizations. other work of Persian literature has been so carefully and so Please send your check to: thoroughly examined. Every single line, allusion, or name Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation has been amply explained. 450 Riverside Drive, Suite 4 Price: $65 per volume New York, NY 10027 Tel: (212) 851-5723 Fax: (212) 749-9524 THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE IN email: [email protected] IRAN This volume consists of articles extracted from the first 12 volumes of the Encyclopædia Iranica and includes medical To assist the aim of the Encyclopædia Iranica, please institutions, works on medicine, biographies of medical subscribe to it and encourage your local libraries, col- scholars and physicians, etc. leges, and universities to do the same. Price: $39.00 All volumes previously out of print are now available.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PERSIAN ART Prices: ILLUSTRATED Volumes I-V are $340.00 per volume Edited by Richard Ettinghausen and Ehsan Yarshater. Volumes VI-XIII are $250.00 per volume. A comprehensive account of Persian art from the beginning to the present by outstanding scholars. Price: $60.00 Please note that each copy of the Encyclopædia Iranica costs nearly $750.00 to produce. The price of each copy is over two-thirds below the cost because of grants, subsidies, HISTORY OF SHAH ABBAS BY and donations. ESKANDAR BEG Orders may be placed with Eisenbrauns at: Translated by Roger Savory in 3 volumes with complete Eisenbrauns Inc. subject and proper names index. P.O. Box 275 Price: $129.00 Winona Lake, IN 46590 Phone: (574) 269-2011 SADEQ HEDAYAT: AN ANTHOLOGY Fax: (574) 269-6788 Edited by Ehsan Yarshater. Price: $24.00 (hard cover) Email: [email protected] Center for Iranian Studies Columbia University 450 Riverside Drive, Suite 4 New York, NY 10027

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