Iran Islamized Persian Culture
Iran is one of the oldest civilizations of the world, dating back to 4000 BC. The Achamenid Empire (550-330 BC), founded by Cyrus the Great, ruled from the Balkans to North Africa and also Central Asia, spanning three continents. The great Persian empire of the yore, also endured invasions from the Greeks, Arabs, Turks and the Mongols. Islamization in Iran took place during 8th to 10th century and that led to the eventual decline of Zorastrian religion in Persia. Although, Persians adopted Islam, after being ruled by Muslim conquerors, yet they protected their distinct culture, heritage and customs. . According to Bernard Lewis, “Iran was indeed Islamized, but it was not Arabized. Persians remained Persians”. The Mongols invaded Iran (then
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The conflict started when Genghis Khan sent a group of three ambassadors (one Muslim and two Mongols) to meet the Shah himself and demanded the return of the caravan of 500 Muslims, who the Khan had earlier sent to establish official trade relations with Khwarezmeia but were arrested upon arrival. The Shah Ala ad-din Muhammad, instead had both of the Mongols shaven and the Muslim beheaded before sending them back to Genghis Khan. The Shah also ordered the personnel of the caravan to be executed. This was seen as a grave affront to the Khan himself, who considered Ambassadors as “sacred and inviolable”. This led to Genghis Khan’s attacking the Khwarezmian Dynasty in 1219 AD.
During 1220-21 the Mongols ravaged the main cities of Persia and slaughtered the entire populations living in those cities. The Shah of Iran died on an island off the Caspian coast. The destruction of the Khwarezmid Empire by Genghis Khan was just the
The conflict started when Genghis Khan sent a group of three ambassadors (one Muslim and two Mongols) to meet the Shah himself and demanded the return of the caravan of 500 Muslims, who the Khan had earlier sent to establish official trade relations with Khwarezmeia but were arrested upon arrival. The Shah Ala ad-din Muhammad, instead had both of the Mongols shaven and the Muslim beheaded before sending them back to Genghis Khan. The Shah also ordered the personnel of the caravan to be executed. This was seen as a grave affront to the Khan himself, who considered Ambassadors as “sacred and inviolable”. This led to Genghis Khan’s attacking the Khwarezmian Dynasty in 1219 AD.
During 1220-21 the Mongols ravaged the main cities of Persia and slaughtered the entire populations living in those cities. The Shah of Iran died on an island off the Caspian coast. The destruction of the Khwarezmid Empire by Genghis Khan was just the