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The End of the Ērānšahar: The Decline of the Sasanian Empire

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Abstract

This essay discusses the various theories as to the decline and fall of the Sasanian Empire in the Seventh Centuries CE. It then deals with the strength and resources of the Sasanian Empire after the reforms of Kawād I and Khosrow I in the sixth century CE which enabled the empowerment of Ērānšahr (Kingdom of the Iranians). However, these reforms also brought new challenges and problems to the empire, such as the barbarization of the Sasanian Army and the empowerment of generals against the prestige of the king of kings. Consequently, in the seventh century CE, the coup against Khusrow II, caused the decline and loss of power for the Sasanian King, leading to chaos and the erosion of the empire.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    MacKenzie (1998).

  2. 2.

    Rezakhani (2017).

  3. 3.

    Millar (1995).

  4. 4.

    Rapp (2014).

  5. 5.

    Fisher (2015).

  6. 6.

    Bowersock (2013).

  7. 7.

    Duchesne Guillemin (1979: 375–386).

  8. 8.

    Wiesenhofer (2016).

  9. 9.

    Garsoian (2005).

  10. 10.

    Taffazzoli (2011).

  11. 11.

    Rubin (2003).

  12. 12.

    Gyselen (1989, 2011).

  13. 13.

    Noth (1994).

  14. 14.

    Daryaee and Rezakhani (2016: 2–3).

  15. 15.

    Daryaee and Rezakhani (2016: 2).

  16. 16.

    Best echoed in the poem of Ahmad Shamlu (2003).

  17. 17.

    Ognibene and Gariboldi (2004).

  18. 18.

    Morony (1984).

  19. 19.

    Donner (1981).

  20. 20.

    Hugh Kennedy (2008).

  21. 21.

    Zakeri (1995).

  22. 22.

    Pourshariati (2008).

  23. 23.

    Howard-Johnston (1995).

  24. 24.

    Rubin (2003).

  25. 25.

    Howard-Johnston (1995: 166–167).

  26. 26.

    Kettenhofen (2011).

  27. 27.

    Howard-Johnston (1995: 167).

  28. 28.

    Hugh Kennedy (2008: 171).

  29. 29.

    Hugh Kennedy (2008: 171).

  30. 30.

    Morony (2001).

  31. 31.

    Tyler-Smith (2000).

  32. 32.

    Christensen (1993: 93).

  33. 33.

    Christensen (1993: 88).

  34. 34.

    Christensen (1993: 113).

  35. 35.

    Morony (2008).

  36. 36.

    Gyselen (2001).

  37. 37.

    Daryaee (2010).

  38. 38.

    Weber (2017: 145–147).

  39. 39.

    Felix (2011).

  40. 40.

    Gyselen (1997: 66).

  41. 41.

    Mochiri (1983: 221).

  42. 42.

    Daryaee (2015: 197).

  43. 43.

    Frye (2018).

  44. 44.

    Garsoian (1983: 592).

  45. 45.

    Huff (2008: 1).

  46. 46.

    Thomson, Howard-Johnston and Greenwood: 40–129.

  47. 47.

    Gnoli (1999).

  48. 48.

    Daryaee (1999: 79–80).

  49. 49.

    Fisher (2011: 185).

  50. 50.

    Weber (2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Irvine, CA, USA

    Touraj Daryaee

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    Michael Gehler

  2. Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Robert Rollinger

  3. University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Philipp Strobl

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Daryaee, T. (2022). The End of the Ērānšahar: The Decline of the Sasanian Empire. In: Gehler, M., Rollinger, R., Strobl, P. (eds) The End of Empires. Universal- und kulturhistorische Studien. Studies in Universal and Cultural History. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-36876-0_10

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