An examination of the Social and Political Contexts of the Growth of Shiite Scientific Endeavors in the Seljuk Era

The fifth and sixth centuries (AH) were brilliant periods in the scientific development of the Islamic societies. Shiite scholars also participated in this process. Shiite elites, based on their jurisprudential frameworks and adopting moderation policy, have played roles in various levels of the government. They have taken important steps in the fields of knowledge (education, educating students, and compilation of books), the development of the related institutions (establishing schools) and promoting Shiite religion. As a result of these activities, the rise of the Shiite religion began during this period. This article examines the social and political contexts of the growth of Shi'ites' scientific endeavors in the Seljuk era to answer the question of how the Shi'ite scholars' scientific endeavors increased despite the Seljuks' religious policy in favor of the Sunni sect. Based on the available data, it is assumed that the emergence of the new issues and the need to face some intra-religious and inter-religious challenges, as well as some signs of crisis in the thinking system of the Islamic community at the time, underpinned the Shiites' motivation for their scientific endeavors.