The Zoroastrian World
1st Edition
Will be published approx. on 13. March 2026
Book
Hardback
606 pages
978-0-367-76909-3 (ISBN)
Description
Although Zoroastrians in the contemporary world are numerically few - estimated recently at less than 150,000 across the globe - their ancient Iranian ancestors ruled vast areas of the Near East for over a millennium. From the mid-sixth century BCE to the mid-seventh century CE, the historical contribution of the 'Mazda-worshipping' religion to the intellectual, cultural, and political development of the region was momentous. The migration of some Zoroastrians to north-western India also had a significant social and economic impact on early modern and modern India. From the mid-seventeenth century until the present, Zoroastrianism has also played an important role in European discourse.
Written by a distinguished team of international contributors, including many Zoroastrians, The Zoroastrian World presents a global guide to Zoroastrianism from the earliest period to the modern day, offering original perspectives through substantial thematic contributions on the lived experience of Zoroastrian communities across the world. The volume is organised into five distinct sections:
Imagining 'Zoroastrianism
The Developing Zoroastrian World
Living Realities: Zoroastrian Narrative and Symbol in the Modern World
Contemporary Challenges in the Zoroastrian World
Creative Contributions from the Zoroastrian World.
The Zoroastrian World provides an authoritative and accessible source of information on topics relating to the Zoroastrian religion. Within these sections' interdisciplinary themes such as scripture, literature, institutions, devotional life, diversity, ritual, education, environment, sustainability, education, ethics, gender, governance, politics, law, marriage, family life, humanity, peace, persecution, science and religion, spirituality and philosophy. The volume is essential reading for students engaged in studies of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics; Ancient and Modern Iran; the Near and Middle East; South Asian Religions; and Cultural History. The Zoroastrian World is intended for all curious readers, who seek to know more about this ancient, enduring religion.
Written by a distinguished team of international contributors, including many Zoroastrians, The Zoroastrian World presents a global guide to Zoroastrianism from the earliest period to the modern day, offering original perspectives through substantial thematic contributions on the lived experience of Zoroastrian communities across the world. The volume is organised into five distinct sections:
Imagining 'Zoroastrianism
The Developing Zoroastrian World
Living Realities: Zoroastrian Narrative and Symbol in the Modern World
Contemporary Challenges in the Zoroastrian World
Creative Contributions from the Zoroastrian World.
The Zoroastrian World provides an authoritative and accessible source of information on topics relating to the Zoroastrian religion. Within these sections' interdisciplinary themes such as scripture, literature, institutions, devotional life, diversity, ritual, education, environment, sustainability, education, ethics, gender, governance, politics, law, marriage, family life, humanity, peace, persecution, science and religion, spirituality and philosophy. The volume is essential reading for students engaged in studies of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics; Ancient and Modern Iran; the Near and Middle East; South Asian Religions; and Cultural History. The Zoroastrian World is intended for all curious readers, who seek to know more about this ancient, enduring religion.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Postgraduate, Undergraduate Advanced, and Undergraduate Core
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
16 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder, 3 s/w Tabellen, 16 s/w Abbildungen
3 Tables, black and white; 16 Halftones, black and white; 16 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 244 mm
Width: 170 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
1170 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-76909-3 (9780367769093)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Jenny Rose | Albert de Jong | Sarah Stewart
The Zoroastrian World
E-Book
03/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€0.00
Available for download
Jenny Rose | Albert de Jong | Sarah Stewart
The Zoroastrian World
E-Book
03/2026
1st Edition
Routledge
€0.00
Available for download
Persons
Jenny Rose is a Research Fellow at Claremont Graduate University, where she taught classes in Zoroastrian Studies before relocating to the UK in 2023. Her books relating to the Zoroastrian world include Zoroastrianism: An Introduction (I.B.Tauris/Bloomsbury, 2011); Zoroastrianism: A Guide for the Perplexed (Continuum/Bloomsbury, 2011); and Between Boston and Bombay: Cultural and Commercial Connections of Yankees and Parsis, 1771-1865 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019).
Albert de Jong is Professor of the Study of Religion in the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. He mainly works on Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, the Mandaeans, and the Roman cult of Mithras.
Sarah Stewart is Reader Emeritus at SOAS, University of London. She studied at ANU and SOAS before going on to teach in the Department of History, Religions and Philosophies at SOAS. She was a curator of the exhibition, The Everlasting Flame, Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination (Brunei Gallery, London 2013; National Museum, Delhi 2016) and co-founder of the SOAS Shapoorji Pallonji Institute for Zoroastrian Studies (SSPIZS) in 2017. Her publications include Voices from Zoroastrian Iran, Vols. 1 & 2 (Harrassowitz 2018 & 2020).
Albert de Jong is Professor of the Study of Religion in the University of Leiden, the Netherlands. He mainly works on Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, the Mandaeans, and the Roman cult of Mithras.
Sarah Stewart is Reader Emeritus at SOAS, University of London. She studied at ANU and SOAS before going on to teach in the Department of History, Religions and Philosophies at SOAS. She was a curator of the exhibition, The Everlasting Flame, Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination (Brunei Gallery, London 2013; National Museum, Delhi 2016) and co-founder of the SOAS Shapoorji Pallonji Institute for Zoroastrian Studies (SSPIZS) in 2017. Her publications include Voices from Zoroastrian Iran, Vols. 1 & 2 (Harrassowitz 2018 & 2020).
Content
Introduction A. Imagining Zoroastrianism 1. How Zoroastrianism Imagined Itself 2. Ancient Greek, Indian and Chinese Knowledge of Zoroastrianism (a) Recasting Zoroastrian Dualism within the Greek Philosophical Imagination (b) Imagining Zoroastrianism in the light of the Maga Brahmanas and the Kambojas (c) Zoroastrianism in the Chinese Imagination 3. Persian Religion and Judaism (a) Zoroastrianism/ Persian Religion in the Hebrew Bible (b) Zoroastrianism in the Babylonian Talmud 4. Manichaean, Christian, and Mandaean Views of Zoroastrianism 5. Zoroastrianism in early Arabic Sources 6. The European 'Rediscovery' of the Ancient Persians and their worldview 7. The History of the Study of Zoroastrianism 8. Zoroastrianism and Freemasonry in Colonial-Era India and Britain: Imagining Zoroastrianism and Re-imagining Freemasonry 9. A 'Persian History'? Achaemenid history and Zoroastrian reception in Gore Vidal's Creation 10. The Fascination of the Flame: Zoroastrianism and Tourism B. The Developing Zoroastrian World HISTORY 10. Imagining Ahura Mazda: the Earliest Form of Zoroastrianism 11. Reconstructing Regional and Chronological expressions of Zoroastrianism in Imperial Iran (a) Persian Religion in the Achaemenid Empire (b) Zoroastrianism in the religious context of the Arsacid Empire (c) Zoroastrianism in the Sasanian Empire 12. From the Arrival of Islam to Modern Times: The Bridge from Ancient to Modern (a) Zoroastrianism in Iran from the Arab Conquests to the mid-Nineteenth Century (b) Zoroastrianism in India: From the Migrations of the Parsis to the Late Eighteenth Century SOURCES 14. Sources, Approaches, and Core Characteristics of Zoroastrian texts. (a) The Developing Zoroastrian World and Orality (b) The Oldest Sources for Zoroastrianism: Avestan and Old Persian (c) "A Jewel of Wisdom Literature in the Pahlavi Tradition of Zoroastrianism" (d) The Meaning of Persian Zoroastrian literature (e) An Historical Overview of Parsi Writing in Gujarati (f) Zoroastrian literature in English from the Nineteenth to early Twentieth Centuries MATERIAL EVIDENCE 15. Zoroastrianism in Central Asia (a) Central Asian Expressions of Zoroastrianism (b) Central Asian Zoroastrianism: Can a case be made for Sogdiana? 16. Zoroastrianism in Anataolia, the Caucasus and Georgia (a) Zoroastrianism in Anatolia and the Caucasus (b) The 'Fire-worshippers' of Georgia C. Living Realities: Zoroastrian Narrative and Symbol in the Modern World 17. The Role of Parsi Zoroastrians in British Colonial-era India 18. Zoroastrian Politics in the era of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran (1905-1911) 19. Reconciling Persianate and Western forms of knowledge: esotericism as Zoroastrian hermeneutics in colonial India 20. Calling on Divine Help: Parsi Religious Expressions in Mumbai, Navsari, and Surat 21. Zoroastrian communities in diaspora (a) Zoroastrian Communities outside India and Iran (b) A Personal Account of migrating to North America 22. Teach your Children Well: Zoroastrian Religious Education 23. Digital Approaches to Zoroastrianism (a) The use of digital resources in studying the Zoroastrian religion (b) Digital projects in Zoroastrianism (c) The Impact of the Digital World on Internal Zoroastrian Discourse D. Contemporary Challenges in the Zoroastrian World INTERNAL CHALLENGES 24. Demographic Issues and Identity in Twenty-first Century India: Jiyo Parsi 25. The reverberations of the dokhmenashini debate in Mumbai and Zoroastrian death rituals practiced in India 26. Perspectives on the Zoroastrian Priesthood (a) Perspectives on the Parsi priesthood in India (b) Perspectives on the Zoroastrian priesthood in Iran (c) Perspectives on the Parsi priesthood from the UK: an interview with Ervad Yazad T. Bhadha (d) Perspectives on the Parsi priesthood from the US: an interview with Zerkxis Bhandara 27. Who Speaks for Zoroastrianism Today? 28. The Changing Roles of Men and Women (a) The Changing Roles of Men and Women within the Iranian Zoroastrian community (b) The Changing Roles of Parsi Men and Women in India 29. A Caring Model for the Elderly (a) Care for the Zoroastrian Elderly in India (b) A Caring Model for the Elderly in the UK EXTERNAL CHALLENGES 30. Zoroastrianism and Human Rights 31. Zoroastrianism and the Environment: Reviving the Forests of Doongerwadi in Mumbai, India 32. Zoroastrian Approaches to Business Ethics and Sustainable Development in Contemporary Times E. Creative Contributions from the Zoroastrian World 33. Modern Literature. 'First Darling of the Morning': An Interview with Parsi Novelist, Thrity Umrigar 34. Theatre. A larger laughter: the unique legacy of Parsi theatre 35. Music, Devotional Poetry and Songs (a) The House of Song (b) Devotional Poetry and Songs of the Zoroastrians of Iran 36. Visual Art and Textile (a) "I yam what I yam:" A Conversation with Screenwriter, Director and Photographer, Sooni Taraporevala (b) The Garden of the Universe: An Interview with Artist Hormazd Narielwalla (c) Identity and Silk: The Emergence and Re-emergence of Sino-Parsi Trade Textiles 37. Food (a) "You have to crack a few eggs to make a Parsi omelette:" An Interview with Chef and Culinary Author, Farokh Talati (b) Memories of growing up in Iran, Persian food, Zoroastrian festivals, and life as an author and cookery writer: An Interview with Shirin Simmons 38. Sport. How Parsis helped make India a cricketing nation