Decline and Fall of the Sasanian Empire has already been praised as one of the most intellectually exciting books about ancient Persia to have been published for years. It proposes a convincing contemporary answer answer to an ages-old mystery and conundrum: why; in the seventh century CE; did the seemingly powerful and secure Sasanian empire of Persia succumb so quickly and disastrously to the all-conquering Arab armies of Islam? Offering an impressive appraisal of the Sasanians' nemesis at the hands of the Arab forces which scythed all before them; the author suggests a bold solution to the enigma. On the face of it; the collapse of the Sasanians--given their strength and imperial power in the earlier part of the century--looks startling and inexplicable. But Professor Pourshariati explains their fall in terms of an earlier corrosion and decline; and as a result of their own internal weaknesses. The decentralized dynastic system of the Sasanian empire; whose backbone was a Sasanian-Parthian alliance; contained the seeds of its own destruction. This confederacy soon became unstable; and its degeneration sealed the fate of a doomed dynasty.
#5080928 in Books 2008-07-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x 1.00 x 6.00l; .93 #File Name: 1843317273264 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. It is a classicBy adeaThis book is written by a scholar who holds a degree in sanskrit and who does not depend on translations of classical literatures and scriptures. The book is a mine of information with extensive translations. The comments are very insightful. Any person—students; inquisitive persons of the field and scholar as well—will benefit from this book. Indians and the world as well need to know how Indians become Indians. This book is a big help towards that understanding. The only one extra thing would have helped me more: I would have liked to have some of the critical terms and names given in Bengali or Hindi; even in Sanskrit.
