Safavid era culture from the perspective of Khan Ahmad Khan Gilani’s letters

Salehmoghaddam, Negin; Salehinia, Maryam; Noghani Dokht Bahmani, Mohsen

doi:10.22054/ltr.2024.77104.3788

Safavid era culture from the perspective of Khan Ahmad Khan Gilani’s letters

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ M. A. in Persian Language and Literature, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

³ Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Ferdowsi university of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22054/ltr.2024.77104.3788

Abstract

The letters of Khan Ahmad Gilani offer a wealth of insights into the political landscape, beliefs, culture, and social life of the populace during the Safavid era—insights that are seldom found in alternative sources. This research endeavors to uncover the cultural manifestations inherent in these letters through qualitative content analysis, aiming to construct a comprehensive cultural portrait of that period based on the extracted data. Given the proliferation of religious sentiments during the Safavid period, the letters in this collection prominently feature numerous references to religious themes. These references, alongside folk beliefs and linguistic elements, collectively contribute to a nuanced representation of the cultural milieu of the time. Moreover, the letters provide a multifaceted array of political, social, economic, and cultural information. From this analysis, it can be inferred that the domain of culture encompasses a broader range of content compared to other societal categories. Notably, the categories of language and religious beliefs emerge as the most frequently discussed aspects within the cultural discourse, underscoring their significance in understanding the societal context of the Safavid era.

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