The Approach and Method of Alireza Shapour Shahbazi in Sasanian Historiography

Movaffaghi, Vida; Zarrinkoob, Roozbeh

doi:10.22034/chs.2026.579683.1167

The Approach and Method of Alireza Shapour Shahbazi in Sasanian Historiography

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Vida Movaffaghi ¹

Roozbeh Zarrinkoob ²

¹ Ph.D. Graduate, Ancient Iranian History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/chs.2026.579683.1167

Abstract

Historiographical research reveals historians' scholarly influence by examining their academic traits, methodologies, and interpretative frameworks. A historian's personal background, social context, and lived experiences are essential for understanding the presuppositions shaping their writing. This paper is an attempt to identify and examine Alireza Shapour Shahbazi’s approach to historiography by reviewing his perspectives in Sasanian studies and his broader articles, followed by a critical evaluation of his methodology. The study offers a practical example of assessing an Iranian historian who adheres to scientific criteria while tracing the historical and cultural continuities of his chosen period. Aimed at examining Shahbazi's Sasanian historiography through his scholarly output, this study tries to find what approaches and methods he used to analyze Sasanian events and subjects. A review of various historiographical schools and Shahbazi's works shows that he framed his event analysis and research responses within a robust context of subject description, sources, and data. He also employed a comparative method to examine historical processes. His work consistently balances empirical description with analytical rigor, making his historiography a valuable case for understanding modern Iranian historical scholarship. This assessment highlights how Shahbazi integrated traditional source criticism with contemporary methodological awareness, ultimately contributing to a deeper comprehension of Sasanian history within its broader cultural and temporal framework.

Keywords

Alireza Shapour Shahbazi

historiography

Sasanian history

historical methodology

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