The early years of the Babi movement
This study examines the rise of the Babi movement in its first phase (1844-47), the formative period which has been less fully explored than later phases (1847-52) but deserves a thorough critical examination. An attempt has been made to explain the complex relationship between the intellectual and social aspects of the movement; ideas, events and personalities are seen in a wide historical perspective, and the early impact of the movement on 'ulama, tujjÄr and other groups in Iranian urban society, and the reactions it evoked from them, are examined. The first two chapters deal with the intellectual and social climate of Iran in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with particular attention to the development of millenarian ideas. Chapters III and IV are concerned with the process which eventually gave birth to the movement. The early life of Sayyid 'AlÄ" Muhammad, the Bab, his family background and personal characteristics are discussed in some detail, so as to show the external influences and inner experiences which finally brought him to proclaim a new 'revelation' in 1844. The conflicts and confusions within the Shaykhi ranks, which served as a stimulus to the conversion of those Shaykhi students
Amanat, Abbas
Babism ; History ; Shi?ah ; Religion ; Iran ; 19th century
The early years of the Babi movement. This study examines the rise of the Babi movement in its first phase (1844-47), the formative period which has been less fully explored than later phases (1847-52) but deserves a thorough critical examination. An attempt has been made to explain the complex relationship between the intellectual and social aspects of the movement; ideas, events and personalities are seen in a wide historical perspective, and the early impact of the movement on 'ulama, tujjÄr and other groups in Iranian urban society, and the reactions it evoked from them, are examined. The first two chapters deal with the intellectual and social climate of Iran in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, with particular attention to the development of millenarian ideas. Chapters III and IV are concerned with the process which eventually gave birth to the movement. The early life of Sayyid 'AlÄ" Muhammad, the Bab, his family background and personal characteristics are discussed in some detail, so as to show the external influences and inner experiences which finally brought him to proclaim a new 'revelation' in 1844. The conflicts and confusions within the Shaykhi ranks, which served as a stimulus to the conversion of those Shaykhi students
movement study_examines rise movement first_phase formative_period less fully_explore later phase deserve thorough critical_examination attempt_make explain complex_relationship intellectual social_aspect movement idea event personality see wide historical_perspective early impact movement ulama group iranian urban_society reaction evoke examine first_two deal intellectual social climate iran particular_attention development millenarian idea iii concern process eventually give birth movement early_life family_background personal characteristic discuss_detail show external_influence inner experience finally bring proclaim new revelation conflict confusion within rank serve stimulus conversion student