1987/01/01 by Jamsheed K. Choksy · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Eurasian Exchange Networks #Islamic Studies and History #Byzantine Studies and History #CONQUEST #Ancient history #Islam #Empire #Settlement (finance) #Zoroastrianism #History #Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1080/00210868708701689
openalex publication_date 1987/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
The Arab conquest of the Sasanian empire (633-651 A.D.) provided the Iranian peoples with their first extensive contact with Islam. Prior to this, encounters between Zoroastrians and Muslims had generally been restricted to the lower reaches of the Mesopotamian plain. More importantly, this conquest installed Islam as the religion of the new rulers, replacing Zoroastrianism, referred to as the good religion (Phl. weh dēn ) by its followers, which had enjoyed royal favor under the Sasanians. The conquest of the Sasanian empire resulted in large numbers of Arabs entering and eventually settling on Iranian territory. The presence of these Arabs on the Mesopotamian plain and Iranian plateau, and their eventual settlement there, naturally resulted in coexistence and social interaction between Muslims and the native Zoroastrians. This interaction would initially have been slow, as the Arab troops were confined to military garrisons (Ar. Amşār ).