When discussing any historical phenomenon — whether a specific fact or the history of an entire civilization — it is essential to consider the historical context in which that phenomenon existed. This is as necessary as knowing, for example, the immediate environment of a historical figure, since without this information we will never be able to understand the meaning behind many of their decisions and actions.
In the case of Sasanian Iran, this context was the Late Antique era (3rd–6th centuries CE) with all its characteristic features — most notably, its transitional nature. This refers to the dual process occurring during Late Antiquity: the gradual disappearance of the Ancient World and the formation of Medieval civilization on its foundations.
This process did not affect only the classical (i.e., Greco‑Roman) world, as one might assume from the era’s name. Instead, it encompassed all ancient civilizations from the Mediterranean (the Roman Empire) to East Asia (China) inclusive.
From this perspective, the Middle Persian kingdom of the Sasanian became a connecting link:
- On one hand, with classical Iranian antiquity — primarily represented by the ancient Persian Achaemenid Empire (6th–4th centuries BCE), the Hellenistic Seleucid kingdom (4th–1st centuries BCE), and the post‑Hellenistic Parthian Arsacid kingdom (3rd century BCE – 3rd century CE).
- On the other hand, with Iranian Medieval times — whose beginning was marked by the Arab‑Muslim conquests of the 7th century CE.
Here it is appropriate to recall the words of the prominent American Iranologist R.N. Frye: “Islam was conquered by the Persians.” This statement may seem paradoxical at first glance, but in reality, this is essentially what happened.
The Arab‑Muslims who defeated Iran militarily lacked traditions of statehood and were compelled to build their Arab Caliphate by borrowing from the conquered Persians a vast array of achievements in virtually every sphere of public life — from economy and state administration to social relations and culture.
It would not be much of an exaggeration to say that Islamic civilization, as we know it, owes its emergence and formation more to the people of Iran than to those of the Arabian Peninsula.
In this connection, it is no coincidence that in the mass consciousness of Iranians, the entire millennium‑plus of pre‑Islamic history of their country is quite firmly associated precisely with the Sassanids — particularly with King Khosrow the Great. This is similar to how the entire ancient Russian era was associated in the historical memory of the Russian people (as reflected in bylinas) with Kievan Rus and Prince Vladimir the Red Sun.
