Iran wasn’t a monolithic Zoroastrian state when it fell to Arab armies. Iran was a huge multi-religious multi-ethnic empire. While Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion, Christianity, Judaism, and Manicheanism were large and powerful religions.
In Part II of Why Did Iran Embrace Islam I deal with the state of Zoroastrianism in Iran in the 7th century and the 8th, the position of Zoroastrian clergy, and the hostility of Zoroastrians to the avaricious priestly class.
Why did the Zoroastrian population turn against the magi (Zoroastrian clergy)?
Why did the Zoroastrian population turn against the magi (Zoroastrian clergy)?
Iran wasn’t a monolithic Zoroastrian state when it fell to Arab armies. Iran was a huge multi-religious multi-ethnic empire. While Zoroastrianism was the dominant religion, Christianity, Judaism, and Manicheanism were large and powerful religions.
In Part II of Why Did Iran Embrace Islam I deal with the state of Zoroastrianism in Iran in the 7th century and the 8th, the position of Zoroastrian clergy, and the hostility of Zoroastrians to the avaricious priestly class.