Theater state and the formation of early modern public sphere in Iran : studies on Safavid Muharram rituals, 1590-1641 CE / by Babak Rahimi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rahimi, Babak.

Series:

Iran studies ; v. 5.

Iran studies, 1569-7401 ; v. 5

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political culture--Iran--Isfahan--History--17th century.

Political culture.

Political customs and rites--Iran--Isfahan--History--17th century.

Political customs and rites.

Tenth of Muḥarram.

Theater--Political aspects--Iran--Isfahan--History--17th century.

Theater.

Fasts and feasts--Political aspects--Iran--Isfahan--History--17th century.

Fasts and feasts.

Group identity--Iran--Isfahan--History--17th century.

Group identity.

City and town life--Iran--Isfahan--History--17th century.

City and town life.

Iṣfahān (Iran)--Social life and customs--17th century.

Iṣfahān (Iran).

Iṣfahān (Iran)--Politics and government--17th century.

Iran--History--Ṣafavid dynasty, 1501-1736.

Iran.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (404 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, c2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

During the Safavid period, the Shi'i Muharram commemorative rites which had been publically practiced since the 7th century, became a manifestation of state power. Already during the reign of Shah 'Abbas I (1587-1629) the Muharram rituals had transformed into an extraordinary rich repertoire of ceremonies and ceremonial spaces that can be defined as 'theater state'. Under Shah Safi I (1629-1642) these ceremonies ultimately led to carnivalesque celebrations of misrule and transgression. This first systematic study of a wide range of Persian and European archival and primary sources, analyzes how the Muharram rites changed from being an originally devotional practice to an ambiguous ritualization that in combination with other public arenas, such as the bazaar, coffeehouses or travel lodges, created distinct spaces of communication whereby the widening gap between state and society gave way to the formation of the early Iranian public sphere. Ultimately, the Muharram public spaces allowed for a shift in individual and collective identities, opening the way to multifaceted living fields of interaction, as well as being sites of contestation where innovative expressions of politics were made. In particular, the construction of the new Isfahan in 1590 is linked with the widespread proliferation of the Muharram mortuary rites by discussing rituals performed in major urban spaces.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

Introduction

The Carnivalesque Paradigm:

The Carnivalesque Public:

The Safavids in the Transcultural Context

A History of (Safavid) Muharram Rituals

Necro-Public and the Safavid Ritual Theater State:

Spaces of Misrule:

Conclusion:

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1-283-33465-8

9786613334657

90-04-20756-2

OCLC:

769101974

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004207561 DOI