Document Type : Research Article

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of History, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Folk literature encompasses a form of experience, imagination, awareness, aspirations, failures, and sorrows, and generally, a mentality that exists among the masses regarding their time, past, or future. Such a context appears highly significant for researchers seeking a deeper understanding of the masses' historical actions and perceptions of historical elements and concepts. This is because official historiographies rarely discuss the people and their narratives of different conditions, and if there is any mention, it either endorses the actions of the elite or outright criticizes and rejects the reactions of the masses. In fact, giving voice to the people from the depths of history and reinterpreting their role through the study of their literature—folk literature—can shed light on their presence in the darkness of history and unveil their influential role in past life. Therefore, in this study, an in-depth analysis and understanding of the shared discursive elements between the elite and the lower classes within the society and culture of the Safavid era are undertaken through the lens of historical texts from this period and a central folktale from the people of Khorasan regarding Shah Tahmasb I. The aim is to elucidate the construction of public consciousness in that era and the efforts of the political institution—headed by the Shah—in light of the recognized cultural elements enshrined in the official discourse. The main research question is: How does the selected folktale express the historical and lived reality of the era of Shah Tahmasb I, and how does it unveil the specific discourse formation of this period in the construction of public consciousness?

Keywords

Main Subjects

Aghajari, Hashem (2008) The role of religion and government in Safavid Iran, Tehran: Islam and Iran Recognition Center (Baz Publications).  [In Persian]
Arjani, Farmarzban Khodadad (1347-1353), Samak Ayyar, Tehran: Parviz Natal Khanleri Publishing House [In Persian]
Estrabadi, Seyyed Hasan bin Mortaza Hosseini (1366), from Sheikh Safi to Shah Safi, by Ehsan Eshraghi, Tehran: Scientific Publications. ] In Persian[
Skarpit, R. (1374) Sociology of Literature, translated by Morteza Katabi, Tehran: Samt Publishing House. ] In Persian[
Afushte-e Naznazi, Mahmoud bin Hedayatullah (1373), Naqawah al-Athar fi Zikr al-Akhyar, by Ehsan Eshraghi, Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publishing Company. [In Persian]
al-Hosseini Khorshah bin Qobad (1376), the history of Ilchi Nizam Shah, by the effort of Mohammad Reza Nasiryu Koichi Haneda, Tehran: Association of Cultural Artifacts and Masters. ] In Persian[
Olearius, Adam, (1369), Safarnameh Volume 2, Isfahan Khonin Shah Safi, translated by Hossein Kordbecheh, Tehran: Kitab Bari Hamme. ] In Persian[
Iman Mohammad Taghi (2014), Qualitative Research Methodology, Qom: University and Field Research Institute. ] In Persian[
Boudaq Monshi Qazvini (1378), Javaher al-Akhbar, edited by Mohsen Bahramnejad, Tehran: Written Heritage. ] In Persian[
Parsa Dost, Manocheher (1381), Shah Tahmasab I, Tehran: Publishing Company. ] In Persian[
Rabi Benyamin Tatiili, Tenero Antonio and Mimbre Mikel, (2013) Three travelogues: (from the time of Sultan Sanjar and the early Safavid era) with two explanations about Spanish, Portuguese and Italian travelogues, by the efforts of Hassan Javadi and Willem Fleur, Tehran: Moqofat Foundation Publisher Mahmoud Afshar. ] In Persian[
Jafarian، Rasoul (1374), Saeb Tabrizi and the legitimacy of the Safavid monarchy, Keihan Andisheh, No. 60. . ] In Persian[
------------- (1379), Abdi Beyk Shirazi's political views (988 AD) about Shah Tahmasb Safavi (984 AD) Islamic Government, No. 16. . ] In Persian[
Hosseini, Masoud bin Mohammad Mirak (1385), Riaz Al-Firdous Khani, with the efforts of Iraj Afshar and Farishte Sarafan, Tehran: Dr. Mahmoud Afshar Foundation. ] In Persian[
Khandamir, Amir Mahmoud (1370), History of Shah Ismail and Shah Tahmasab Safavi, edited by Dr. Mohammad Ali Jahrhi, Tehran: Nash Gostareh. ] In Persian[
Darvishian Ali Ashraf and Khandan Reza (2018), The Culture of Legends of the People, Volume 8, Tehran: Mahris Publishing. ] In Persian[
Venetian travelogues in Iran (six travelogues) (1381), translated by Manouchehr Amiri, Tehran: Kharazmi Publications. ] In Persian[
Sipak, Yiri (2004), Iranian folklore literature, translated by Mohammad Akhgari, Tehran: Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and Broadcasting Press, Research Center/Soroush. ] In Persian[
Siori, Roger (1374), Safavid Iran, translated by Cambis Azizi, Tehran: Maekaz. ] In Persian[
------------ (1380), about the Safavids, translated by Ramadan Ali Rooh Elahi, Tehran: Center Publishing. ] In Persian[
Shamlou, Wali Qali Khan (1400), Qasses al-Khaqani, Vol. 1 edited by Seyyed Mir Mohammad Sadiq, Tehran: Soroush and Andisheh Books. ] In Persian[
Talei Qara Qashlagi Aziz (1400) An analysis of the contexts and factors affecting the behavior and religious policy of Shah Tahmasab I Safavid, Journal of Historical Essays, Volume 12, Volume 2. . ] In Persian[
Shah Tahmasb bin Ismail bin Heydari al-Safavi (1363), Tazkira, by Amrullah Safari, Tehran: Sharq Publications. ] In Persian[
Alam Arai Shah Tahmasb (1370), with the efforts of Iraj Afshar, Tehran: World of Books. ] In Persian[
Shaerbaf Mehrdad Alizadeh, Fatuji Roudmoajni Mahmoud and Zulfiqari Hassan,  The Content Analysis of the Safavid Era Storytelling: A Political and Social Goals Approach, Bimonthly Journal of Culture and Popular Literature, year 8, number 33, March and September 2019. ] In Persian[
Ghafari Qazvini, Qazi Ahmad (1344) History of Jahan Ara, Tehran: Hafez Book Shop Publishing. ] In Persian[
Figuera (1363), travel book, translated by Gholamreza Samii, Tehran: No. ] In Persian[
Qazi Ahmad Qomi (1383), Khalase al-Tawarikh, Volume 1, by Ehsan Eshraghi, Tehran: Tehran University Press. ] In Persian[
The Tale of a Thousand Gisu (1380). Yazd: Ali Razavi Bahabadi. ] In Persian[
Karri Jamli (1348) travel book, translated by Nakhjavani and Vakarang, East Azarbaijan: Department of Culture and Arts. ] In Persian[
Colin Mitchell (2017), Politics in Safavid Iran: Power, Religion, Rhetoric, translated by Hassan Afshar, Tehran: Farhang - e-Javid. ] In Persian[
Kaempfer Engelbert, (1363) travel book, translated by Kikavos Jahandari, Tehran: Kharazmi Publications. ] In Persian[
Mohtsham Kashani, Kamal al-Din (1380) Haft Diwan, edited by Abdul Hossein Navaei and Mehdi Sadrif, Tehran: Written Heritage Publication. ] In Persian[
Monshi Skandarbeg, (2001), Alam Arai Abbasi, Volume 2, under the supervision of Iraj Afshar, Tehran: Amir Kabir. ] In Persian[
Navaei, Abdul Hossein (1360) Iran's political documents and writings from 1038 to 1105 with detailed notes, Tehran: Farhang Iran Foundation. ] In Persian[
Romelu, Hassan (1384), Ahsan al-Tawarikh vol.3, Abdul Hossein Navaei, Tehran: Asatir. ] In Persian[
Yahya bin Abdul Latif Qazvini (1363), Lob al-Tawarikh, Tehran: Moghadam. ] In Persian[
Babayan, Kathryan, (2003) Mystics, Monarchs, and Messiahs: Cultural Landscapes of Early Modern Iran, Harvard University Center for Middle Eastern Studies.
Burke, Peter. 1998. Mentalities. in A Global Encyclopedia of Historical Writing: K + Z, ed. D. R. Woolf. Taylor & Francis.
  Tilly Charles, (2000)Encyclopedia of European Social History from 1350 to 2000 ,Editor by Peter  N Stearns, Volum 3, Entry:  Social Class: Publisher Charles Scribner:Detroit: Encyclopedia of European Social History from 1350 to 2000.