Tārīkh-i ´ālam Ārāy-i 'abāsī - 2 jildi Persian 2021

“Tarikh-e Alam-ara-ye Abbasi” (The History of Alam-ara-ye Abbasi) is one of the most important contemporary sources on the history of the Safavid dynasty, particularly the reign of Shah Abbas I. The work was written by Eskandar Beg Turkman Monshi, a court chronicler who served during the reign of Shah Abbas and accompanied him throughout his rule. Through his detailed account, Eskandar Beg provides an extensive narrative of the political events, military campaigns, and personal life of one of the most influential Safavid monarchs.

Although the work is an invaluable historical source, it is not a completely impartial chronicle. Eskandar Beg wrote as a member of the Safavid court and often reflected the perspective of the ruling establishment. He himself belonged to the Turkman tribe, one of the prominent and respected tribal groups during the Safavid era.

In Tarikh-e Alam-ara-ye Abbasi, Eskandar Beg also describes aspects of his own youth and intellectual development. He explains that, in his early years, influenced by worldly-minded and short-sighted individuals, he turned away from the pursuit of traditional sciences and became interested in ilm-e siyāq (the administrative science of accounting and financial record-keeping). After spending some time in this profession, he came to regret his choice and realized that it had distanced him from knowledge and intellectual refinement.

He writes that through his encounters with distinguished scholars and talented figures skilled in literary composition, he became fascinated by their eloquence, refined expressions, and mastery of prose and poetry. This experience awakened in him the desire to pursue literary arts and eventually contributed to his development as a writer and court historian.

As both a historical record and a literary work, “Tarikh-e Alam-ara-ye Abbasi” holds a unique position in Persian historiography. It not only documents the political and military achievements of Shah Abbas I but also provides valuable insights into Safavid court culture, administration, social structures, and the intellectual atmosphere of seventeenth-century Iran.