Why Are There Relatively Few Pre-Islamic Persian Scholars?

The question of the dearth of pre-Islamic Persian scholars often invites historical exploration. While several notable scholars such as Touraj Daryaee have addressed this issue in Persian, the academic community primarily operates in English. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the factors that led to the relative scarcity of pre-Islamic Persian scholars and the existing records of their work.

Perception and Apologetics

Religious Muslims in Iran, exemplified by scholars like the late Ayatollah Motahari, often view pre-Islamic Iran as irrelevant. Consequently, they dismiss the idea of pre-Islamic Iranian scientific or intellectual achievements. This perspective can be detrimental to the understanding and appreciation of Iran's rich cultural and intellectual heritage.

Iranian Nationalism and Blame

In contrast, Iranian nationalists frequently attribute the loss of pre-Islamic written sources to the Arabs. While this narrative offers a critique of Arab dominance, it oversimplifies the complex historical processes that led to the preservation and loss of written records. This approach also ignores the contributions of pre-Islamic Persian scholars and the efforts to preserve knowledge during various periods of Iranian history.

Historical Reality

The truth lies somewhere between these two extremes. Pre-Islamic Persian scholars did exist, but much of their work is either lost or only partially preserved. What has survived has come to us through secondary sources or via a few inscriptions and writings that have survived from the pre-Islamic era. Some of this literature was lost during the Arab conquest of the 7th century AD, which saw the destruction of many written records. However, the Arabs also preserved and utilized some of this literature.

Literature and Preservation

Some pre-Islamic Persian literature was preserved and used by the Arabs. For example, the Pahlavi manuscripts in the library of Baghdad, which included significant works from Iran, were destroyed by the Mongols during their sack of the city in the 13th century. This catastrophic event resulted in the loss of many valuable texts.

Challenges and Preservation Efforts

The preservation of pre-Islamic Persian literature faced numerous challenges. Despite efforts to document and safeguard these works, the sheer impact of historical events such as the Arab conquest and the Mongol invasion overshadowed these efforts. The loss of significant libraries and manuscripts led to a significant gap in the historical record of pre-Islamic Persian scholarship.

Conclusion

While the historical record of pre-Islamic Persian scholars is sparse, their contributions to knowledge and thought are not entirely lost. The efforts of scholars and archaeologists continue to uncover and preserve what remains from this period. It is crucial to recognize the complexity of historical narratives and the multifaceted nature of the preservation and loss of knowledge.

Keywords: Pre-Islamic Persia, Persian Scholars, Islamic Conquest, Preservation of Literature