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Zoroastrianism, History

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  • First Online:
Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

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Synonyms

Mazdaism; Parsism

Definition

Zoroastrianism is an ancient Iranian religion which reached India in Antiquity, and the Early Middle Ages adapted to Hinduism, and is still practiced there by the Parsis.

Introduction

Zoroastrianism, a faith based upon the words of Zarathushtra, was a major religion in ancient and medieval times. During that period, it influenced Hellenistic, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim beliefs. After the Arab conquest of Iran in the seventh century, Zoroastrianism gradually lost adherents. Others fled to the Indian subcontinent for safety and religious freedom. Consequently, Zoroastrian communities now dwell not only in Iran but also in larger numbers within India where they are called the Pārsis (Pārsees). In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, some of them have immigrated from India and Iran to other countries around the world. Zoroastrians traditionally refer to themselves as Mazdā yasnī “worshipers of Mazdā” [1].

The Prophet, His Time, and Place

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Central Eurasian Studies, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Jamsheed K. Choksy

Authors
  1. Jamsheed K. Choksy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jamsheed K. Choksy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pomona College Religious Studies, Claremont, CA, USA

    Zayn R. Kassam

  2. Rollins College Jewish Studies Program, Winter Park, FL, USA

    Yudit Kornberg Greenberg

  3. World Zoroastrian Organization, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jehan Bagli

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Choksy, J.K. (2018). Zoroastrianism, History. In: Kassam, Z.R., Greenberg, Y.K., Bagli, J. (eds) Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1267-3_566

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