Iran Under the Mongols - by Denise Aigle (Hardcover)

About the Book

"What were the effects of Mongol rule in Iran? Using a wide variety of sources including official and semi-official historiography; non-official historiography; local sources and geographical and biographical works, this book examines Ilkhanid rule in Fars from a local perspective. Charting the fortunes of successive rulers, her research shows that the failings of individual rulers, as well as intriguing by Persian notables, were the principal reasons for Shiraz and Fars's economic decline under the Mongols in comparison with the more successful neighbouring province of Kerman. Including a glossary, chronology and genealogical tables for the major Ilkhanid dynasties, as well as analysis of the latest manuscript sources, Iran under the Mongols is a vital contribution to our understanding of the effects of Mongol rule in Iran"--

Book Synopsis

What were the effects of Mongol rule in Iran? This book focuses on Shiraz and the province of Fars to provide a detailed political, social and economic history of Ilkhanid rule from the first Mongol invasions in 1220 until the end of the Injuid Dynasty in 1357. Using a vast collection of sources, Denise Aigle combines local and global approaches to integrate the history of the province into the whole administrative system. Central is the thesis that Mongol rule caused a break in traditional administrative patterns. A dual administrative system was set up, consisting of both Mongol and local Persian personnel, directed from the court. Charting the fortunes of each successive ruler, her research shows that the failings of individual rulers, as well as intriguing by Persian notables, were the principal reasons for Shiraz and Fars's economic decline under the Mongols in comparison with the more successful neighbouring province of Kirman. Iran Under the Mongols is a vital contribution to our understanding of the effects of Mongol rule in Iran.

Review Quotes

"Two decades ago, Professor Aigle published her innovative study of Mongol rule and interaction with the local notables of the Iranian region of Fars. Her ground-breaking approach launched the study of local and regional history of Mongol Iran. Now updated with 20 years of scholarship and an accessible translation into English, this work is a vital volume for the library of anyone who studies the Mongol Empire or Iranian history." --Timothy May, Professor, University of North Georgia, USA

"This book is one of the most important contributions to scholarship on Mongol-ruled Iran in the last half-century. Aigle's rare grasp of Iran's rich literary memory allows her to vividly reconstruct the balance of power between imperial and provincial powerbrokers in a work that anticipated and informed much recent research on the topic. This newly translated and updated edition will be necessary reading for anyone studying Iran in the Middle Ages." --Michael Hope, Associate Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea

"This restructured and substantially updated study of the impact of Mongol rule on the southern provinces of Iran in the 13th-14th century provides us with a detailed and profoundly researched analysis of the political and economic situation in Fars and adjacent provinces. Apart from highlighting the importance of understanding regional variations in how the Mongols interacted with the territories they conquered, Denise Aigle demonstrates convincingly that the Iranian local elites, motivated by their own self-interests, were as much the cause of the political corruption and financial mismanagement of local government as the Ilkhans' officials in the central Ordu. Essential reading for anyone interested in Mongol rule in Iran." --Charles Melville, Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge, UK

This book is one of the most important contributions to scholarship on Mongol-ruled Iran in the last half-century. Aigle's rare grasp of Iran's rich literary memory allows her to vividly reconstruct the balance of power between imperial and provincial powerbrokers in a work that anticipated and informed much recent research on the topic. This newly translated and updated edition will be necessary reading for anyone studying Iran in the Middle Ages.
Michael Hope, Associate Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea

This restructured and substantially updated study of the impact of Mongol rule on the southern provinces of Iran in the 13th-14th century provides us with a detailed and profoundly researched analysis of the political and economic situation in Fars and adjacent provinces. Apart from highlighting the importance of understanding regional variations in how the Mongols interacted with the territories they conquered, Denise Aigle demonstrates convincingly that the Iranian local elites, motivated by their own self-interests, were as much the cause of the political corruption and financial mismanagement of local government as the Ilkhans' officials in the central Ordu. Essential reading for anyone interested in Mongol rule in Iran.
Charles Melville, Professor Emeritus, University of Cambridge, UK

Two decades ago, Professor Aigle published her innovative study of Mongol rule and interaction with the local notables of the Iranian region of Fars. Her ground-breaking approach launched the study of local and regional history of Mongol Iran. Now updated with 20 years of scholarship and an accessible translation into English, this work is a vital volume for the library of anyone who studies the Mongol Empire or Iranian history.
Timothy May, Professor, University of North Georgia, USA

About the Author

Denise Aigle is Professor Emerita at École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE) and Researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (UMR Orient & Méditerranée), France. Her previously publications include The Mongol Empire between Myth and Reality (2014).