Literature in Pre-Safavid Isfahan

Abstract

The most common classification of Persian literature is the classification according to geographical divisions. The literary style sabk carries the name of the geographical area in which it reached its climax. The boundaries of these divisions, however, are very flexible.The three main literary styles which follow each other consecutively are known as: Khurasani, ᶜIraqi, and Hindi. The time spans of each style are equally flexible. Within these broad geographical divisions we then come across certain “literary schools” which reflect regional peculiarities and idiosyncrasies and are identified with smaller entities like provinces or towns. For example, there are: the Azerbayjani school, the Tabriz school, or the Shirvan school. This paper deals with literature in Isfahan in pre-Safavid times.Isfahan has enjoyed a central geographical position and played a very important role in the history of Iran. It is, therefore, natural that in the history of Persian literature we come across The Isfahan School of poetry.