An Historical Analysis of the Factors that Led to the Progression of Natural Sciences in Iran after Islam

Document Type : Scientific-Research

Authors

Daryoush Heydari Bigvand

Hamed Bakhshi

https://doi.org/10.22067/jss.v0i0.8775

Abstract

This paper analyzes the historical causes of the rise of the natural sciences in Iran after Islam. Through reviewing different accounts of the scientific movement that happened during a period from the third to the fifth century A.H., the researchers try to provide a convincing explanation for this historical event. The employed research methods in this study including "causal narrative" and Max Weber's "objective possibility" and "causal Adequacy" are used to test the causal narrative presented in this paper. The results show that the equality seeking slogans of Islam led to the elimination of the Sassanid's semi-cassette system and the tribal government of Umayyad. In addition, the influence of the Persian nobles in the Abbasid court and the transmission of culture and values of scientism to the Sassanid government in the politically stable and wealthy environment of Abbasid court led to the rise of natural sciences in Iran and Islamic countries. It is argued that with the establishment of semi-independent states in the third and fourth centuries A.H. in Iran, this academic growth was transferred to these governments and led to the rise of science in Iran.

Keywords

Natural sciences

Iran

Islam

Academic growth

Causal narrative

Objective possibility

Causal adequacy

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