Journal of History and Culture
Year:2024 | Volume:55 | Issue:2|Papers Count:6

Mīrzā Ḥusain Khān Sipahsālār rose to premiership at a time when the economic and financial conditions of the country were critical and the government was on the brink of bankruptcy. In order to improve the financial situation and to organize financial affairs, he initiated several reforms in the country. The present study aims at investigating the success or failure of his plans of financial reform through the examination of financial documents and their impact on the country’s income and expenditure. In doing so, the study employs the descriptive-analytical method. Findings of the study illustrate that Mīrzā Ḥusain Khān brought order to bureaucratic and financial matters through the strengthening of central power and legislation, and expanding control and supervision over rulers and administrators. In addition, his reformations and his restrictive financial policy succeeded in providing the necessary financial resources for the development of infrastructure and carrying out large-scale economic projects. According to financial records, by the end of the second year of Mīrzā Ḥusain Khān’s premiership in 1289-1290 A.H./1872-1873 A.D., the government had paid its debts, settled delayed treasury allowances, and created a balance among income and expenditure. A considerable amount of this money was deposited in treasury savings.

The emergence of a power structure unequal with the power of caliphate in the beginning of the fourth century A.H./10th century A.D. marked a distinctive era in the history of Islam. The Buwayhids in Iraq managed to dominate the caliphate for more than a century with characteristics that seemed foreign to a great majority of the population under its rule, and by means of following shrewd policies and taking advantage of the special conditions prevailing in the domain of caliphate at the time. The dynasty exerted significant influence upon various aspects of the Islamic civilization, including administrative institutions and scientific advancements, especially in Shīʿī religious sciences. This study critically revisits John J. Donohue’s views vis-à-vis the political reasons behind such unpredictable domination. Despite enumerating some reasons related to the essential characteristics and policies implemented by the Buwayhids, Donohue mainly emphasizes the specific conditions of the caliphal territory at the time of their rise to power. This paper has attempted to offer alternative views by critically comparing Donohue’s perspectives with some primary sources and recent scholarship. The stability of the Buwayhids, despite the failures of governments like the Zīyārīds, is mostly attributed to their inherent characteristics and implemented policies.

Ansāb al-Ashrāf, penned by Aḥmad ʾibn Yaḥyā Balādhurī (d. 279 A.H./892 A.D.), encompasses several diverse narrative about ʿAlī ʾibn ʾAbī Ţālib. It is impossible to overlook an analysis of these narratives in analyzing the history of ʿAlī ʾibn ʾAbī Ţālib’s life. Nevertheless, scholars and historians have not properly acknowledged the significance of this book’s historical accounts. The present article aims at highlighting the significance of the narratives mentioned in Ansāb al-Ashrāf related to Imam ʿAlī, by comparing the book with the most prominent historical sources before and after its publication. The absence of a religious approach in Balādhurī’s work, as compared with writers such as ʾIbn Saʿd and Ţabarī, has led to the fact that he provides a more comprehensive image of events such as Saqīfa, the replacement council for ʿUmar, ʿUthmān’s Assassination, the Battle of Jamal, and his information regarding ʿAlī ʾibn ʾAbī Ţālib is more complete. Additionally, his personal connection with the Abbāsīd government has led him to select narratives related to the interactions between ʿAbbās (the Prophet’s uncle) with ʿAlī ʾibn ʾAbī Ţālib.

The present research investigates trade relations between the Rasūlīd government (govern. 626-858 A.H./1228-1454 A.D.) in Yemen and the Persian Gulf, and provides a historical overview of the Rasūlīd’s power and government. It seems that the study of relations between the Rasūlīd government and Persian Gulf ports can open a new chapter in the historical studies of the Persian Gulf region. This is due to the commercial nature of their government and the reliance of Banī-Rasūl government on trade revenues on one hand, and the position of Persian Gulf in East-West trade on the other hand. The research findings indicate that the Rasūlīd’s government was a commercial state, where trade especially with the coasts and islands of Persian Gulf held particular importance. Persian Gulf was considered one of the most important destinations of international trade for the Rasūlīds. The research employs library resources and investigates the topic using the descriptive-analytical method.

Given the significance of the notion of authenticity in preservation and restoration, the present study aims at investigating this concept and other related concepts (like value, integrity, and the artist’s intent) in the history of preservation and restoration. The article attempts to reconsider authenticity and determine various approaches regarding authenticity throughout the history of preservation and restoration. In doing so, the history of preservation and restoration is to be reviewed and explored. The qualitative method of research and content analysis strategies are employed to carry out the research. The study of concepts such as value, authenticity, integrity, artist’s intent, and the preservational-restorational approach in historical artifacts across time reveals that the values expressed in historical artifacts and cultural heritage are transformed by the particular philosophical perspectives, schools of thought, and events of each era. These factors have indirectly exerted influence on authenticity, integrity, artist’s intent, and eventually on the preservational-restoration approach.

The present article attempts to introduce a lesser-known work called Kanz al-Maʿārif, written in Persian and in central Iran, and highlight its significance in a better and deeper understanding of the Barmakīd Dynasty. The book is entirely dedicated to ʾĀl-i Barmak (The Barmak family) and the biographies of the most important figures in this dynasty, and is authored by ʿAbd al-Jalīl ʾibn Yaḥyā ʾibn ʿAbdul Jalīl ʾibn Muḥammed ʾibn ʿAbdulbāqī Yazdī. He began writing the book in 762 A.H./1360 A.D. and dedicated it to Shāh Shujāʿ Dīn Muẓaffarī once it was finished. Three copies of this book are known to exist, with the two older copies numbered 1342 and 1351 being kept in the national library of France. The latter was transcribed in 926 A.H./1520 A.D., while the former’s transcription date remains unknown. The third copy belongs to the ʿĀrif-i Ḥikmat Library in Medina and was transcribed in the 12th century A.H./18th century A.D. In this article, in addition to introducing the author and the copies of the work, its connections with other books particularly written about the Barmakīds and with the narratives mentioned in historical and literary accounts regarding this family are analyzed. Through this analysis, the merits and significances of the work compared with others in understanding the Barmakīds is revealed.