Genealogy of Urban Culture of Balkh with an Emphasis on the Role of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism and Islam

AbstractGenealogy of Balkh urban culture is in fact a description of the historical course of the metropolis of Khorasan, conducted based on Persian and Arabic works and evidence. This research tries to understand the historical identity of Balkh, which is called the Mecca of Eastern cities, via focusing on the role of religions. In the passing of Balkh through the passage of history, it is difficult to find a better witness than the role of religions, which have established its identity. For this purpose, this article has tried to analyze the role of religions in the urban culture of Balkh by focusing on economic growth, analysis of literary texts, climatic conditions, and political and sociological transformations. Foucault’s genealogical approach is an appropriate model to read our intended history in Balkh to the spread of Islam throughout Khorasan. This approach allows the genealogy of Balkh’s urban culture to be studied in relation to literature, history and religions, in order to determine the role of religions and rituals through genealogical knowledge and know how religion has been able to shape the intellectual horizon, epistemological foundation and unity of identity of the tribes living in Balkh. At the end of the article, it becomes evident that Islam, as the most dominant religion, has played a significant role in the urban culture of Balkh.