Ferdowsi School of Persian Literature

Classical Persian through Historical Texts: Reading Beyhaqī’s History of Mas'ūd (3)

March 31st - April 4th

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Instructor: Ruben S. Nikoghosyan

Languages: English, Persian

Duration of the Course: 1 week, 5 days (10 hours)

Frequency: 5 days per week

Duration of each Class: 2 hours (7 pm Yerevan Time)

Participation Fee: Free of Charge

Deadline for Applications: March 26th

Classes Start:  March 31st 

Level of Persian: Intermediate, Advanced

Location: Online (Zoom classroom)

Text Edition: Abo’l Fazl Beyhaqī. Tārīx-e Beyhaqī. Moqaddame, towzīhāt va ta’liqāt az Manučehr-e Dānešpažuh. Bar asās-e nosxe-ye ‘Ghani-Fayyāz’ va nosxe-ye ‘Adib-e Pīšāvarī’ va nosxe-ye ‘Doktor Fayyāz’. Tehrān. Hīrmand, 1376. (dar 2 ǰeld).

Registration requirements: In order to register for the course, please click on the Apply button above and fill in all the boxes (all boxes are necessary). After filling in the boxes click Submit. We will contact you if your application is accepted, and send you further instructions for participation.

Note: All materials are provided by the instructor.

 

Beyhaqi’s History (Tārīx-i Beyhaqī) is a significant yet often overlooked work in Early Classical Persian literature. The text features an elegant and precise prose style, making it a quintessential example of Early Classical Persian writing. Its importance transcends historiography, offering valuable insights from literary and linguistic perspectives. One is tempted to called a historical novel – so captivating it is for an engaged reader!

This course serves as an introduction to this masterpiece of Classical Persian prose, equipping participants with all the essential grammatical, lexical, and stylistic tools to independently read, analyze, and comprehend the text.

After a week of intensive instruction, participants will have a deeper understanding of Classical Persian grammar and the structure and content of Beyhaqi’s work, while enjoying the fascinating intrigues of the Ghaznavid court.

About the Course

Classical Persian through Historical Texts: Reading Beyhaqī’s History of Mas’ūd (11th c.) is an intensive 1-week course designed for students specializing in Iranian history, Persian language and literature, as well as enthusiasts eager to deepen their knowledge of Iranian history and Classical Persian literature.

Over the span of two weeks, the course will meet daily (Monday to Friday) for 2 hours each day. During each class we will explore multiple chapters of Beyhaqi’s book, read and analyse each even minute details of the text, covering the grammar, vocabulary, expressions and etymology of the words.

This approach aims to familiarize participants with Classical Persian grammar, formal expressions, lexicon, style, and technical vocabulary, and provide with the basic tools for reading the text on their own.

The selected chapters cover a diverse range of topics, offering participants a profound understanding of the historical realities of the early 11th century, as depicted in the History of Mas’ūd.

About Beyhaqi and his History

Abo’l-Fażl Beyhaqī, a distinguished historiographer of Iranian origin, authored a significant work on Ghaznavid history around 1060 AD, which stands as a pinnacle of Early Persian historiography.

Beyhaqī, closely connected to the sophisticated Ghaznavid bureaucratic apparatus, drew upon personal observations, eyewitness accounts, and official documents accumulated during his extensive service at the Ghaznavid court.

His meticulous and fact-based historiographical approach, akin to that of Thucydides, renders his book—though only a fragment survives to our times—an invaluable source for researchers delving into Early Islamic Iranian history. Additionally, the work’s high literary value and its simple yet elegant language make it a compelling read for enthusiasts of Persian language and literature.

Beyhaqī’s Histories not only presents dramatic descriptions of historical events but also weaves intriguing narratives about court life, royal manners, political intrigues, wars, and various other captivating topics.

Methodology

In my courses, I employ a straightforward yet highly effective method that integrates literary, historical-linguistic, and philological approaches to elucidate even the most complex passages and challenging words within Classical Persian texts.

Drawing on my knowledge of pre-Islamic (Middle) Persian language and literature, as well as my familiarity with a number of Iranian and non-Iranian languages, broader historical and geographical contexts, and the rich literary traditions of the region, I aim to bring clarity to the meanings of words, expressions, and ideas within the texts we study, by analysing each single expression and word of the text that might prove to be challenging for the students.

This approach, which focuses on explaining the foundational logic and structure of the language of the text, will not only help participants comprehend the historical work examined during the course but also provide them with the tools and confidence to engage with other Classical Persian texts independently in the future.

Course Structure

The course consists of 5 sessions of intensive study, each session lasting for two hours. The classes will be held from Monday to Friday, and last for one week. Below is a breakdown of the main activities during each class:

  • Reviewing and reflecting on homework sections 
  • Reading the text 
  • Break: Short pause to refresh (15 minutes)
  • Reading the text
  • Q&A and wrap-up: Open discussion and addressing participants’ questions 

Students are encouraged to actively participate and share their perspectives, creating a collaborative learning environment.

Course Readings

Day 1. Chapter VII. Āğāz-i tārīx-i amīr šihāb ad-dawla Mas‘ūd b. Maḥmūd (raḥmat-ullāhi ‘alayhuma). p. 149

Passages:

  • p. 150 (line 7) – p. 153 (line 15)
  • p. 154 (lines 4 – 13)
  • p. 156 (lines 8 – 14)

Day 2. Chapter VIII. Xuṭba

Passages:

  • p. 157 (line 1) – 160 (line 1)
  • p. 160 (line 4) – 164 (line 16)
  • The Story of Nasr b. Ahmad Samani: p. 165 (line 1) – p. 167 (line 9)
  • Šekastenafsi of Baihaqi: p. 167 (line 10) – 169 (line 2).

Day 3. Chapter IX. al-maqāmat fī ma‘ani wilāyat-il-‘ahdi bi-l-amir šihāb-ad-dawla Mas‘ūd (the adventures of the young Mas‘ūd).

Passages:

  • p. 173 (line 1) – p. 175 (line 1).
  • p. 187 (line 3) – p. 193 (line 2).

Day 4. ðikr-i ḥikāyat-i afšīn wa xalāṣ yāftan-i Bu Dolaf az way. Part 1.

Passages: 

Entire chapter:  p. 265 – p. 274

Day 5. ðikr-i ḥikāyat-i afšīn wa xalāṣ yāftan-i Bu Dolaf az way. Part 2.

Passages: 

Continuing reading the chapter: p. 265 – p. 274

"Thanks to his vast and deep familiarity with several religious, historical and literary texts written in Middle and Classical Persian, Ruben’s well-structured courses have always been intellectually stimulating and inspiring. In addition to his knowledge of secondary literature in Russian, French, German, Armenian, Persian and English, Ruben often draws on riches of the Persian literary canon to explain linguistic features."
Kristof Szitar
Kristof SzitarPhD candidate, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland
"I took Ruben’s ‘Introduction to Pahlavi’ course, and I highly recommend it. This course is not just an excellent introduction to the Middle Persian language, but also a gateway to understanding the broader historical and cultural realities of Sasanian Iran. You will learn a lot — and have great fun in the process!"
Ekaterina Nechaeva
Ekaterina NechaevaResearcher at Université de Lille, France
What impressed me most was his meticulous attention to detail and his deep expertise in both historical linguistics and the literary content of the texts. His approach allowed us to explore their rich cultural and historical significance in a meaningful way, while also absorbing key notions of grammar and vocabulary. I highly recommend Ruben's classes to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of Persian literature and language, guided by a knowledgeable, passionate, and patient teacher."
Alberto Bernard
Alberto BernardPhD, École Pratique des Hautes Études, PSL, France
"This course greatly developed my confidence in Middle Persian, which I had tried to learn sporadically in years past, without much success. We read different texts in different genres, and became familiar with the process of transliterating and transcribing inscriptions written in Middle Persian, which is very important for my future projects. Ruben's course will serve as the basis for all my future studies into Middle Persian!"
Jae Hee HanAssistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Brown University, USA
"Ruben’s Persian reading class was an enriching and eye-opening experience. Ruben is incredibly patient, resourceful, and knowledgeable, guiding us through the nuances of Persian texts and manuscripts with clarity and enthusiasm. Enjoyed so much reading Persian prose with Ruben and learning about histories!"
Yue XiePhD student, Department of History of Art & Architecture, Harvard, USA
"This was the second course that I have taken with Ruben and I cannot recommend studying with him highly enough! He is an incredibly engaging teacher who really makes the course material come to life. I have studied Persian for many years but my courses with Ruben have been on a whole other level."
Ali Hassan
Ali HassanDepartment of South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA
"Learning Persian literature with Ruben was a fantastic experience. I started learning Persian out of necessity, but thanks to Ruben, I began to understand the beauty of its language and literature, and now I am enjoying learning Persian."
So Jeong LeeMA Student in Art History, Seoul National University, South Korea
"Besides the philological approach that drew me to the course in the first place, I enjoyed the wide ranging discussions on orthography, scribal cultures, and the editorial history of the text. Ruben deployed a method of close reading, which allowed us to work around meanings at different levels and appreciate the occasional ambiguities in a work. This is an invaluable training for anyone interested in texts, irrespective of the language and culture. I wholeheartedly recommend Ruben's courses to anyone interested in the literary cultures of the Persianate societies, not the least for the passion with which he takes you through a literary work."
Somok RoyDoctoral Student, University of Bonn, Germany
If you are struggling with reading Classical Persian or Persian paleography, Ferdowsi School is the go-to place! Ruben is very knowledgeable, patient, and encouraging. While the texts were daunting initially, Ruben always encouraged us to think by connecting what we had learned from the previous sessions, so we both refreshed our memories and also applied what I have learned to the new text.
Di WangPhD Student, Department of History, The Ohio State University
"I truly cannot recommend studying with Ruben Nikoghosyan enough to anyone interested in Persian languages and literature. He is a passionate scholar with a wealth of knowledge and critical insights into the literary traditions of Middle and classical Persian texts. I have taken Ruben’s Middle Persian and Shahnameh courses and have thoroughly enjoyed and developed my understanding of these texts. What I enjoy most from Ruben’s teaching style is ability to always answer questions in depth and provide students with up-to-date literature. No question is too small or too large!"
Natasha Parnian
Natasha ParnianPhD Candidate, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University, Australia

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CONTACT
Ruben S. Nikoghosyan (Yerevan, Armenia)

Email: nikoghosyanruben@gmail.com