Expansion and Consolidation of Islam in Iran to the End of Qajar Period

Abstract

Dozy says in his excellent work on Islam, “During the first half of the seventh century, everything followed its accustomed course in the Byzantine as in the Persian empire. These two cities continued always to dispute the possession of western Asia; there were, to all outward appearance, flourishing; the taxes which poured into the treasuries of their kings reached considerable sums, and the magnificence, as well as in the luxury of their capitals had become proverbial. But all this was in appearance, for a secret disease consumed both empires; they were burdened by a crushing despotism; on either hand the history of the dynasties formed a concatenation of horrors, that of state a series of persecutions born of dissentions in religious matters.