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

علوم اجتماعی دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد

Article 1, Volume 7, Issue 1 - Serial Number 15, September 2010   

Document Type: Scientific-Research

DOI: 10.22067/jss.v0i0.8775

Authors

Daryoush Heydari Bigvand; Hamed Bakhshi^*

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

References