How to Cite: R. Gholami (2026), "Iranian Studies as 'Technography': A Critique of the Austrian Academy of Sciences Publications," J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: May 28. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
Executive Summary: This critique argues that the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) publications in Iranian Studies operate as a specialist archive (“technography”) rather than a center for civilizational understanding, suffering from "epistemic atomism." Through a Gadamerian lens, the author highlights three structural gaps: a "map without a center" that neglects core political and philosophical traditions, an absolute silence on Iranian Islam and Twelver Shi’ism, and a unilateral monologue that excludes living Iranian inheritors (e.g., Iraj Afshar). To achieve true scholarly understanding, the ÖAW must shift from "technique to thinking" by adopting a civilizational framework, embracing interdisciplinary approaches, and engaging in genuine dialogue with internal Iranian scholars.
Upload Date: May 28, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: Iranistische Tradition in Österreich (Iranian Tradition in Austria)
How to Cite: N. Rastegar (2026), "Iranistische Tradition in Österreich (Iranian Tradition in Austria)," J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: May 28. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This article outlines the history and institutionalization of Iranian studies in Austria from the 12th century to 2002. It traces how European contact with the Orient during the Crusades and Habsburg-Safavid diplomatic ties intensified the need for Persian language acquisition. The field was institutionalized with Vienna's Sprachknaben-Institut (1674) and Maria Theresa's imperial Oriental Academy (1754). A major milestone was Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall’s 1812 translation of Hafiz’s Diwan, which profoundly inspired Goethe. From the 19th century onward, Austrian Iranology branched into Indo-European linguistics, ancient philology, and text preservation across universities in Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. Today, the Austrian Academy of Sciences' Commission for Iranian Studies continues this tradition through major research projects like the Iranian Personal Name Book.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: A Discourse Study and Examination of Changes in Identity Concepts in Qajar-Period Azerbaijan
How to Cite: F. Mousavi (2026), "A Discourse Study and Examination of Changes in Identity Concepts in Qajar-Period Azerbaijan" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This discourse analysis examines the semantic transformation of identity concepts such as "Turk," "Azeri," and "Azerbaijani" during the Qajar era, treating these terms as floating signifiers shaped by socio-political struggles. In the early Qajar period, collective identity was fluid and religiously rooted, with "Turk" carrying positive connotations and Mongol heritage viewed favorably by regional authors. However, mid-Qajar encounters with Western modernity spurred a Persian-centric nationalist discourse that re-narrated history, framing ancient Persia as an idealized golden age and casting Turks and Mongols as destructive historical "others." Consequently, to resolve the resulting identity conflict, late Qajar regional elites internalized this hegemonic narrative, actively marginalizing the "Turk" label and adopting newly constructed subject positions like "Azeri" and "Turkic-speaking." Ultimately, the study concludes that these regional identities are not inherent but historically constructed through discursive contestation, providing a critical framework for understanding the contemporary identity dynamics of Iranian Turks.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: The Theory of Iran-Shahr: Genealogy, Components, and Conceptual Chal-lenges
How to Cite: R. Gholami (2026), "The Theory of Iran-Shahr: Genealogy, Components, and Conceptual Chal-lenges" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: The "Theory of Iran-Shahr" posits a continuous civilizational identity that united diverse Iranian ethnicities through the Persian language, centralized bureaucracy, and the religious legitimization of power, originating in antiquity and dynamically synthesizing with Islamic frameworks to survive historical ruptures. However, the theory faces academic critique for its elite-centric focus, historical essentialism, and the methodological error of equating ancient sacred governance with the modern, contract-based nation-state. Ultimately, the article concludes that Iran-Shahr is a continually reconstructed narrative, emphasizing that contemporary Iran must critically balance this rich historical heritage with modern democratic requirements like equal citizenship and the rule of law.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: Storytelling and the Preservation of Iranian National and Religious Identity
How to Cite: S. Boroumand (2026), "Storytelling and the Preservation of Iranian National and Religious Identity" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This study explores traditional storytelling, such as naqqali and Shahnameh recitation, as a vital intangible cultural heritage that has continuously preserved Iranian national and religious identity from ancient empires through the Islamic era. By dynamically blending mythological epics with religious narratives like ta'zieh, this oral tradition has historically maintained social cohesion, ethical values, and collective memory across diverse generations. The author highlights that storytelling effectively internalizes these cultural norms by deeply stimulating audience imagination, empathy, and a shared sense of historical belonging. Despite facing contemporary threats from rapid urbanization, these enduring narrative practices remain influential and are internationally recognized by UNESCO for urgent safeguarding. Ultimately, the research emphasizes that utilizing modern digital technologies and media platforms is essential to ensure this rich narrative heritage remains a dynamic educational tool for future generations.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: Explanation of the Emergence of the First “Academic Medical Center” (AMC) Model in Ancient Iran: An Analysis of the Connection Between Bi-osecurity, Qanat, and the Institutionalization of Clinical Education in the Sassanid Era
Author Name: Dr. Kamran Mahlooji, Dr. Shahram Jalilian, Dr. Arman Zargaran
How to Cite: K. Mahlooji, Sh. Jailian, A. Zargaran (2026), "Explanation of the Emergence of the First “Academic Medical Center” (AMC) Model in Ancient Iran: An Analysis of the Connection Between Bi-osecurity, Qanat, and the Institutionalization of Clinical Education in the Sassanid Era" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This study argues that the Sassanid Empire established the world's first Academic Medical Center (AMC) in Gondishapur to manage biosecurity threats caused by rapid urbanization and shifting international trade routes. To mitigate the spread of epidemics, the state utilized decentralized, qanat-dependent cities as natural quarantine zones and developed early epidemiological frameworks by systematically categorizing diseases into contagious and non-contagious types. Gondishapur institutionalized clinical education by directly integrating academic study, research, and bedside patient care, alongside implementing the first known medical licensing system. Ultimately, by elevating public health and medical training to a centralized government responsibility, this ancient Iranian model laid the enduring structural foundations for both Islamic-era hospitals and modern academic medicine worldwide.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: Between Continuity and Construction: Reassessing the Iranian Civilization-al Narrative
How to Cite: M. Rayan (2026), "Between Continuity and Construction: Reassessing the Iranian Civilization-al Narrative" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This review of A Glorious Persian Civilization examines the book's longue durée reconstruction of Iranian history, which frames Persian civilization through a sustained synthesis of ethical-spiritual meaning and material progress from antiquity through the Islamic era. The reviewed work highlights Iran's pivotal role as a global knowledge generator, emphasizing the bidirectional cultural synthesis between Iranian intellectual creativity and Islamic metaphysics, structurally facilitated by the Persian language. Moving beyond conventional historiography, the book presents this enduring ethical-rational paradigm as a prospective philosophical resource for addressing contemporary global crises of modernity and technological rationalization. However, the reviewer notes that while the book's interdisciplinary synthesis is formidable, it occasionally leans toward teleology and lacks deep engagement with critical Western historiography regarding historical ruptures and socio-economic dynamics. Ultimately, the review praises the volume as an ambitious, future-oriented narrative that significantly contributes to comparative civilizational theory and intercultural dialogue.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: Textual Evidence of the Transfer of Ancient Iranian Medical Knowledge to the Islamic Era through Gondishapur: A Review-Analytical Study
How to Cite: M. Abdoli, E. Malekzadeh, A. Khorshidian, A. Zargaran (2026), "Textual Evidence of the Transfer of Ancient Iranian Medical Knowledge to the Islamic Era through Gondishapur: A Review-Analytical Study" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This review-analytical study challenges the traditional Greek-centered narrative of Islamic medicine by demonstrating the profound textual and conceptual continuity of ancient Iranian medical knowledge into the Islamic era. Through a comparative analysis of pre-Islamic Persian sources, Galenic writings, and classical Islamic medical texts, the authors reveal that foundational concepts—such as temperament, disease, and the vital spirit—possess deep indigenous Iranian roots. The Sassanid scientific center of Gondishapur functioned as the crucial institutional bridge, sustaining and translating these native epistemologies through rigorous clinical practice rather than merely passing on Hellenistic ideas. Consequently, prominent Islamic-era physicians like Rhazes and Avicenna actively integrated these Persian theoretical frameworks into their enduring medical encyclopedias. Ultimately, the study reframes classical Islamic medicine as a highly pluralistic intellectual tradition where indigenous Iranian clinical and cosmological concepts played a foundational, constructive role.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: The Concept of Iran in the Works of Contemporary Afghan Intellectuals (Case Study: Ghafran Badakhshani)
How to Cite: Z. Hatami, (2026), "The Concept of Iran in the Works of Contemporary Afghan Intellectuals (Case Study: Ghafran Badakhshani)" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This study examines the conceptualization of identity in the works of contemporary Afghan Tajik intellectual Ghafran Badakhshani, who critically confronts both Afghan mono-ethnic (Pashtun) nation-building and Iranian nationalist historiography. Protesting the perceived monopolization of the "Iranian" identity by the modern state of Iran, Badakhshani constructs an alternative narrative that labels present-day Iran merely as "Fars" while equating the ancient, glorious civilization of "Khorasan" exclusively with modern Afghanistan. Rather than seeking to revive a shared, transnational civilizational heritage, he advocates for a separatist, ethnolinguistic "Global Council of Tajiks" that respects current colonial-drawn borders. The author critically refutes this narrative using ancient texts and historical cartography, demonstrating that Khorasan was historically just a province within the broader Iranian empire, not a separate rival civilization. Ultimately, the research concludes that Badakhshani’s historically inaccurate, ethnic-nationalist approach fosters divergence and hostility between Afghan and Iranian Persian-speakers, inadvertently damaging their shared cultural legacy by erasing the unifying name of "Iran."
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
Article Title: The Functions of Calligraphy Art in Non-Ritual Architecture
How to Cite: Z. Alizadeh Birjandi (2026), "The Functions of Calligraphy Art in Non-Ritual Architecture" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This descriptive-analytical study explores the multifaceted applications of calligraphy and inscription writing in non-ritual Iranian architecture, such as palaces, caravanserais, water reservoirs, and historical houses. Evolving from early Kufic to uniquely Persian scripts like Nasta'liq, architectural calligraphy transcends mere aesthetic decoration to function as a profound communicative and structural medium. The research demonstrates that these inscriptions fulfill an identity-forming role by permanently reflecting the social status, history, and cultural beliefs of their patrons and builders. Furthermore, rooted in the deep spiritual significance of letters in Islamic mysticism, calligraphy serves a blessing-seeking function intended to invoke divine grace and protection for secular spaces. Finally, it acts as a vital didactic tool, conveying ethical, educational, and moral teachings that harmonize perfectly with the specific civic purposes of these non-religious buildings.
Upload Date: July 12, 2026, 14:00 pm
The Civilisational Iranian Studies e-Journal is a peer-reviewed, open-access publication dedicated to Iranian Studies with a civilisational and macro-historical focus. Operating as a bilingual academic platform, the journal explores the deep-rooted aspects of Iranian civilization, including historical and civilisational studies, culture and identity, Shi’a studies, philosophy and mysticism, Persian language and literature, cultural heritage and tourism, and contemporary Iran in connection with its civilisational roots. It aims to foster international academic dialogue and provide a platform for scholars, researchers, and experts worldwide to share their insights and findings based on rigorous scientific methodology.
How to Cite: E. Malekzadeh (2026), "The Functions of Calligraphy Art in Non-Ritual Architecture" J. Iran. Cult. Stud., Pub. online: July 12. Available at: https://wisdomhouse.at/journal
English Summary: This study explores the paradigm shift in Iranian historiography from the Constitutional Revolution to the Pahlavi era, tracing its evolution from traditional dynastic event-recording to a modern, analytical tool for national awakening. By examining the works of four pivotal historians, the author outlines a progression of methodologies: Mirza Aqa Khan Kermani’s philosophical and romantic nationalism, Moshir al-Dowleh Pirnia’s documentary positivism reconstructing ancient glory, Ahmad Kasravi’s critical "history from below" emphasizing social currents, and Abbas Iqbal’s academic synthesis defining identity through linguistic and cultural continuity. Employing Western scientific methods in a form of "reversed Orientalism," these thinkers successfully redefined Iranian identity to counter colonial narratives and internal despotism. Ultimately, the research demonstrates how this collective intellectual effort transformed history into a dynamic project of rediscovery, firmly institutionalizing "Iran" as a unified, civilizational, and political entity in the modern collective memory.
