Evaluation of the Role of Zoroastrian Priests in preservation and revival of Iranian Heritage during the First Centuries (A.H.)

The Arab conquest of Iran created a deep transformation. This event caused political, cultural and social restructuring of the country. This new situation led to the formation of several movements in Iran. Some of them denied the new conditions and tried to introduce themselves by relying on the elements of ancient Iranian identity, Among them were Zoroastrian Priests (Mobadan). This study tries to investigate the Zoroastrian priests’ plans and reaction to this new situation as well as their shares in preservation and revival of Iranian heritage. By examining historical, geographical and literary sources we understood that the Zoroastrian priests did a lot in maintaining, revival and expansion of Zoroastrian religion, Persian language, historical consciousness, Iranian culture and traditions during the first centuries A.H. Although as protectors of Zoroastrian religion, they couldnt prevent the supremacy of Islam in Iran, their efforts in the field of history and culture were successful and thus they played a key role in the continuity of Iranian heritage (Iranian identity) in Islamic period. This study has used explanation and interpretation as two means to answer the How and the Why questions about the Iranian heritage and identity in the Islamic era.