Abstract
This article questions whether the expression “Ismaili castles” is
appropriate to describe the fortifications of the historical region of
Quhistān, in Eastern Iran. “Ismaili castle” is a locution largely used
among the historiographical studies of Persian Ismailism of the Alamūt
period (1090-1256), since it would reflect the strategy of political control
experienced by the Ismailis in the territories they ruled. However, this
expression derives from the crystallization of a 19th and the 20th century
idea in line with identity-based and ideological perspectives circulating
among the European scholars. According to this perspective there was a
sort of “Ismaili” identity recognizable in all their mountain “castles”. The
expression is not adequate in terms of historical interpretation, and
specifically for reconstruction of the history of medieval Quhistān. We aim
to trace back the chain of transmission of the interpretative categories
which permitted a widespread use and diffusion of the locution “Ismaili
castles”, and to analyze its impact among the modern studies on Persian
Ismailism. We will then reconsider the role and function of the castles in
Quhistān, in light of the preliminary observations we made during a
survey conducted in the region. This article contributes to the recent
debate on the necessity to free current historiographical approaches from
outdated paradigms and to widen the scope of the research to new and
unedited sources. To this regard, in our conclusion we propose possible
research paths and methods of historical investigation on the medieval
history of Iran.
Simone Cristoforetti , Matteo Sesana. (2020) When did the East-Iranian Quhistāni fortresses become “Ismaili”? New perspectives for a History of Ismailism, Journal of Asian Civilizations, Volume 43, Issue 2.
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