The Period of Transition to New Persian Literature (The Advance of Islam and the Beginnings of New Persian)

Abstract

After the dissolution of the Sasanian Empire, Islam began gradually to spread in Iran, and in its wake there followed the language of its sacred texts, namely Arabic. Arabic expressions found their way into Persian. Gradually too the religion of Muhammad gained the upper hand so that in due course adherents of the old Zoroastrian faith were in the minority. A number of the latter emigrated to India. In northern Iran the native princedoms remained in existence right up to the 15th century and were ruled by descendants of the old nobility of the Sasanian period. Middle Persian was used in this area at least up to the nth century, especially in inscriptions on monuments (Mīl-i Rādkān). The Pahlavi inscriptions were found at the towers of Lajim and Resget. The Pahlavi inscription of the Persian Christians at Quilon in southern India dates from the 9th century, those on the crosses are more recent. The Persians entered the service of the Arabs and not seldom occupied important posts in the government and at court (Barmakids). Under the Ummayads (661–750) the financial organisation was in particular the work of Persian officials. The Persian element became more actively prominent in the Abbasid period (after 750), namely in rebellions that were frequently based on communist movements. The majority of cultured Islamic Persians were clandestinely true to the old faith or to Manichaeism, and from time to time persecution from the side of the fanatical caliphs was directed against them. But it was these very men who had taken upon themselves the task of translating the most mature and important of the Middle Persian literary creations into Arabic, thus making them accessible to the Islamic world.