75890 - History of the Iranian Civilisation: Literacy, Religions and Symbolic Forms

Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the student should be able to dispose of the basic knowledge of the Iranian Pre-Islamic linguistic and literary history. In this way, he/she would be given a basic orientation in the various writing systems adopted in Iran, their history and evolution with close reference to the cultural and religious ideas grown in this area of the world. This competence, apart some specialistic interests, would turn out to be relevant in a wider framework, for instance, in the context of a multi-cultural evaluation of the history of scripture and its symbolic implications, in the study of the relations between orality and written tradition. The difficulties presented by the variety of writing systems will stimulate the competence of the students also with respect to the profession of librarian.

Course contents

The course proposes a synthesis of linguistic and literary history of the Iranian civilization with a certain focus also for the media of transmission, in oral and/or written form. Every year, documents of different nature, era and origin, written or oral, will be taken into deep consideration and analysis.

Readings/Bibliography

Introduction to Iranian religions and languages:

I.M. Oranskij, Le lingue Iraniche, ed. it. a cura di A.V. Rossi, Napoli 1973.

N. Sims-Williams, "Le lingue iraniche", in Le lingue indeuropee, a cura di A. Giacalone Ramat e P. Ramat, Bologna 1993, pp. 151-179.

J. Wiesehofer, La Persia antica, Bologna 2003.

A. Panaino, "Zoroastrismo e religioni dell'Iran preislamico", in Dizionario del sapere storico-religioso del Novecento, a cura di A. Melloni, Bologna 2010, pp. 1752-1792.

Emmerick, Ronald E. and Macuch, Maria, (eds.), The Literature of Pre-Islamic Iran. Companion Volume I to A History of Persian Literature. London: Taurus.

A. Panaino, A. Panaino, Scrittura e scritture nell'Iran Tardoantico fra tradizione ed innovazione. In Lettere come simboli. Aspetti ideologici della scrittura tra passato e presente. A cura di P. Degni. (Libri e biblioteche, 29). Udine 2012, pp. 31 – 59.

A new manual for the History of Zoroastrismo, written by A. Panaino, will be ready for the beginning of 2016.

Students can choose optional bibliography during lessons

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons using textual material for students; discussions about the items also with the presence of other colleagues.

Assessment methods

The examination consists in a discussion of the main items presented during the lessons: political and religious history of Ancient Iran and problems of Iranian linguistics.

Teaching tools

Manuals, videos, manuscripts in facsimile, epigraphic sources, coins, etc.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Clemente Domenico Panaino