Product Description
Studies on Safavid Muharram Rituals, 1590-1641 CE
The book follows a thematic approach with the interplay between theoretical and historical themes in the presentation of material. The first part of the book opens with a description of the current discourse of ritual studies and public sphere in contemporary academic discourses.
While challenging the modernization assumptions dominant in historical and social theory, the section introduces the basic conceptual framework of the following historical chapters. Those not interested in theory can skip this section and move to the second part where I deal more with history, though in these chapters I continue to apply theory to various historical case studies. In the second part, the chapters that deal specifically with Muharram are divided into macro-micro historical analysis of the Safavid rise to power in the early sixteenth century and the historical emergence of Muharram rituals under their reign.
The final four chapters (excluding Chapter Seven, the conclusion) focus on Safavid Muharram rituals and, based on available primary sources, an attempt is made to underline the ambiguous performative processes in the course of the rituals.