Archaeology
Yaser Malekzadeh; Sorour Khorashadi
Abstract
Parvaneh Pourshariati’s study, “Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire. The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran”, is a substantial investigation that offers a novel perspective supported by a great number of details and data from multiple disciplines. This book ...
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Parvaneh Pourshariati’s study, “Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire. The Sasanian-Parthian Confederacy and the Arab Conquest of Iran”, is a substantial investigation that offers a novel perspective supported by a great number of details and data from multiple disciplines. This book has received various receptions in the scholarship. The paper is dedicated to the reexamination of three conceptual constituents in the Pourshariati’s narrative: first, her master thesis concerning the confederation nature of the Sassanid state. Second, the religious-cultural differences among the Persians and the Parthians. Third, the chronology of the Futuh. Through a critical-analytic approach, the authors argue that opposing Pourshariati’s master thesis, there seem to be sequential periods of centralization and de-decentralization in the Sassanid Empire. Furthermore, we discuss that, in spite of Pourshariati’s interesting idea about the religious differences between Pārsīg and Pahlaw, her argument is not justified.
Archaeology
Shahin Aryamanesh; Sorour Khorashadi
Abstract
The Scythians tribes were one of the nomadic tribes inhabiting large areas in the central Eurasian steppes from about the 9th century BC up until the 4th century AD. These tribes moved into parts of present-day Iran after many displacements in the first millennium BC. These tribes have played important ...
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The Scythians tribes were one of the nomadic tribes inhabiting large areas in the central Eurasian steppes from about the 9th century BC up until the 4th century AD. These tribes moved into parts of present-day Iran after many displacements in the first millennium BC. These tribes have played important role in central Eurasian steppes and in Persian and part of India. What scholars know about the Scythians tribes based on the writings of Herodotus. These people have played an important role in Persian and Indian epics, as well as in various historical periods of Iran, such as the Iron Age and Achaemenid and Parthian periods. Their presence in Iran has been illustrated by at least the name of one of the Iranian cities, Sakestan or Sistan, which is the name of these people. Few archaeological findings in Iran have been attributed to Scythians. However, in recent years, new burial grounds have been found which shed new light on the Scythian’s presence in Persia and central Eurasian that appears to confirm the writing of historians. In recent years many articles and books have been published about Scythians based on archaeological findings. Recently a new book has been published entitled Scythians Warriors of Ancient Siberia. This paper critically reviews this book edited by St. John Simpson and Svetlana Pankova.
Archaeology
Yaser Malekzadeh; Sorour Khorashadi
Abstract
The book of Perceptions of Classical Armenia: Romano-Parthian Relations, 70 BC-AD 220 is a Persian translation of a master thesis at Louisiana State University: Perceptions of Classical Armenia: Romano-Parthian Relations, 70 BC-AD 22. This research has mainly focused on the military actions of the Roman ...
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The book of Perceptions of Classical Armenia: Romano-Parthian Relations, 70 BC-AD 220 is a Persian translation of a master thesis at Louisiana State University: Perceptions of Classical Armenia: Romano-Parthian Relations, 70 BC-AD 22. This research has mainly focused on the military actions of the Roman emperors from 70 BC to 200 AD. By comparing the various views on the foreign policy of the Romans in the Eastern regions, the political controversy, and especially the conflict between the Romans and the Parthians during these periods, it was aimed to show the image of the Parthians that Romans had in their mind. This article is a review of the research. A comparative study is conducted between the original English version of the book and its Persian translation to examine the accuracy of the content of the work and the translation. Having in mind that there are several well-known works on this subject that have been published in the West. Translating a mediocre work by a translator with a poor command of English language does not seem beneficial. Therefore, it would be more suitable to select another book and/or translator for this subject.
