JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES
Year:2006 | Volume:16 | Issue:59|Papers Count:8

Sir Percy Sykes is one of the most prominent English Orientalist and Iranologist, who had done an extensive research and studies. He, almost, spent half a century in Asian and African countries. In fact, his political and military responsibilities in Iran and his interests in research and studies on Islamic countries led him to travel a lot including six times to Iran. In these travels, he accomplished an extensive and all-dimensional research and collected valuable and useful information. His various works in politics, social, economic, religion, particularly in history and in geography indicate his deep and extensive information.Sykes wrote a book under the title of the History of Iran. In this book, and his other books, besides his direct observation, he used many resources including Greek, Roman, Armenian, Arabic, and the works of French archeologists, British historians and Iranologists. He claims that by writing this book he filled the gap of the past hundred years (from the time of publication of Sir John Malcolm book).This paper will investigate characteristics of historiography of History of Iran. It will review the motivations, goals, perspectives of Sykes, the sources and the way of using them. Also the paper will analyze the effects of the social conditions and the mode of thinking of the time on sir Persi sykes.

Ismaili Da'wa began in the middle of the third century A.H. in Yemen. After two centuries of Da'wa, Sulayhids established an Ismailite state in Yemen. During their reign, they established close relations with Egypt.Sulayhid had a very important role in the development of Ismailite in southern part of Arabian Peninsula and the India. The most important responsibility of Sulayhid Kings was to invite Fatimid Caliphs [to be Ismaili] as well as the protect Fatimid political basis in Yemen, Mecca and Medina.Yemen Sulayhids invited India, a religious-political relationship that caused Indian Sulayhids to save the written legacy of Fatimids and Sulayhids.Therefore, studying the formation of Sulayhids, as the first Ismaili government, in Yemen is very important.This article will study expansion of Ismaili sect in Yeman and southern part of Arabian Peninsula. Also it will review the formation of Sulayhid dynasty, its rise and fall, and the nature of the relationship between Fatimid Caliphs and the Sulayhid Da'wa.

Although Samanids are considered an Iranian native government, because of their attempts to revive Persian language and to trace their ancestors back to the ancient Persian kings, however, the backbone of the military system, the Court positions and local governors did not depend on native Iranians in this period. As an example Alebtakn, Sima, Faiegh, Baktozen, Tash, Tooz Tash and Gharatkin acquired high positions like Hajabi, commander-in- chief and governor. In fact, the presence of Ghulams in these positions is a noticeable characteristic of the Samanid period.This article will review influential internal and external factors in attracting Ghulams. A brief conclusion and a list of references will follow at the end.

As the Turks dominance began in Iran, the title of Sultan found a pm1icular sense and application. At the time, Sultan referred to a ruler who had received his decree from the Caliph in Baghdad, hence, obtaining political and religious legitimacy to his reign. On this basis, Khwarazmshahian made elaborate political and military preparations for being awarded the decree of kingdom and the official title of Sultan. This article will review those efforts and their consequences, while taking into consideration the dominant features of Khwarazmshahian's relations with the Abbasids Caliphate.

Ibn Khaldoon is one of the prominent Muslim scholars of the 14th century. Some consider him as the founder of urban sociology. In his famous book, Moqaddama (The Introduction), he analyzes the specification of human communities and develops a grand theory for investigating the structure of city life. His analyses were based on causality of events and processes of transformation of social phenomena.This paper will review Ibn Khaldoon's theory and thoughts in terms of his life and the social context. In order to analyze Ibn Khaldoon's thoughts, the author believes, one should be deeply informed about his thoughts and the whole situation of the time. The author argues that pessimistic views of Ibn Khaldoon about city life were originated in the economic and social situation of his historical period. By studying Ibn Khaldoon's views, the author believes, we can understand the cause of backwardness of many countries in the region.

Iranian kingship pattern, due to its theoretical consistency, as a stable paradigm, has been transferred and continued in Iran from the pre-Islamic era to the Islamic period. In fact, Caliphate adjusted to monarchy, and the new system became the dominant political system in Iran since then.This paper will explore the concepts, functional principles and theories in Iranian culture and system of thought of pre-Islamic era. This system of thought, the author argues, while reproduced thoughts and adapted with other cultures maintained the Iranian mode of thought throughout centuries.This paper will show that the Iranian mode of thinking consists of three parts: belief system, moral system and political system. Belief and moral systems has been shaped and supported kinship pattern in the political system.The author claims that the ancient Iranian thought -due to its cultural and intellectual capacity- has developed the possibility and accountability to main concerns in politics and society.

Iranshahr Journal, an intellectual journal in the 1920s, believed that Iran's freedom was embedded in three important revolutions: a revolution in political system, revolution in literature and a revolution in system of thoughts and beliefs. This article will provide an analytical review of the lranshahr Journal's thinking about the intellectual revolution and transformation in the Iranian beliefs and views. A revolution which would, inevitably, cause a transformation in the political system. In order to realize such a revolution development of modem science and reform of the education system were necessary. Then, it would be possible to combat corruption, to change women's lives and re- evaluate religious beliefs.Consequently, the way would be open for more development and progress. This article tries to judge Iranshahrs perspectives and alternatives regarding Iran's freedom.