Reorienting the Sasanians - (Edinburgh Studies in Ancient Persia) by Khodadad Rezakhani (Paperback)

About the Book

In the mediaeval period, Central Asia rose to prominence as a centre of Persian-Islamic culture, from the Seljuks to the Mongols. Khodadad Rezakhani tells the back story of this rise to prominence, the story of the famed Kushans and mysterious 'Asian Huns', and their role in shaping both the Sasanian Empire and the rest of the Middle East.

Book Synopsis

Central Asia is commonly imagined as the marginal land on the periphery of Chinese and Middle Eastern civilisations. At best, it is understood as a series of disconnected areas that served as stop-overs along the Silk Road.
However, in the mediaeval period, this region rose to prominence and importance as one of the centres of Persian-Islamic culture, from the Seljuks to the Mongols and Timur.
Khodadad Rezakhani tells the back story of this rise to prominence, the story of the famed Kushans and mysterious 'Asian Huns', and their role in shaping both the Sasanian Empire and the rest of the Middle East.

Contextualises Persian history in relation to the history of Central Asia Extends the concept of late antiquity further east than is usually done Surveys the history of Iran and Central Asia between 200 and 800 CE and contextualises the rise of Islam in both regions

From the Back Cover

'When it comes to the Sasanian Empire, most of our attention is turned toward its western neighbour, the Roman Empire. Khodadad Rezakhani has produced a brilliant synthesis and narrative of East Iran, showing how important the other side of the Sasanian Empire was for understanding Iranian and Eurasian history in Late Antiquity.This book must be read not only to understand the Sasanian World, but also to form a wider perspective of late antique history in general.' Touraj Daryaee, Maseeh Chair in Persian Studies and Culture Director of the Jordan Center for Persian Studies, University of California A narrative history of Central Asia after the fall of the Greek dynasties and before the rise of Islam Central Asia is commonly imagined as the marginal land on the periphery of Chinese and Middle Eastern civilisations. At best, it is understood as a series of disconnected areas that served as stop-overs along the Silk Road. However, in the mediaeval period, this region rose to much prominence and importance as one of the centres of Persian-Islamic culture, from the Seljuks to the Mongols and Timur. Khodadad Rezakhani tells the back story of this rise to prominence, the story of the famed Kushans and mysterious 'Asian Huns', and their role in shaping both the Sasanian Empire and the rest of the Middle East. Khodadad Rezakhani is a Humboldt Stiftung Fellow at the Institut für Iranistik, Freie Universität Berlin. Cover image: Cover image: Antiochos I of Kommagene shaking hands with Herakles (detail). First-century BC relief from Arsameia (c) Klaus-Peter Simon/Wikimedia Commons Cover design: Barrie Tullett [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-0029-9 Barcode

Review Quotes

Despite slogging through difficult terrain, the book makes for a shockingly smooth read. Any difficulties following the complicated historical narrative is helpfully relieved by the clear and comprehensive conclusions furnished at the end of each chapter. Rezakhani is explicit about the limits of the evidence, and does an enviable job producing a narrative history despite these constraints... Rezakhani skillfully guides the reader through uncharted territories, and successfully centers East Iran as a subject worthy of study in its own right.--Simcha Gross, University of California, Irvine "Ancient Jew Review"

Overall, Rezakhani's book is easy to read and vividly illustrated through the many maps and illustrations (mainly coins).--Tino Shahin, Bonn "Plekos"

This study is a valuable addition to the literature, and will be of particular interest to non-specialist as an entry point and framework from which to familiarise themselves with the history of Central Asia and the Hindu Kush in late antiquity. Although Rezakhani purposefully stayed away from cultural history, his effective use of numismatics has the beneficial side-effect of highlighting some important cultural developments in Central Asia and the inception of East Iran. Clear and well-labelled maps help make this book useful to specialists and non-specialists alike. Likewise, the generous inclusion of images of coins illustrates points raised in the text itself.--Craig Morley, University of Chester "Bryn Mawr Classical Review"

When it comes to the Sasanian Empire, most of our attention is turned toward its western neighbour, the Roman Empire. Khodadad Rezakhani has produced a brilliant synthesis and narrative of East Iran, showing how important the other side of the Sasanian Empire was for understanding Iranian and Eurasian history in Late Antiquity. This book must be read not only to understand the Sasanian World, but also to form a wider perspective of late antique history in general.--Touraj Daryaee, University of California, Irvine

About the Author

Khodadad Rezakhani is an Associate Research Scholar at the Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-RahmanI Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies, Princeton University.