Mazdakism

Mazdakism (Persian: مزدکیه, romanized: mazdakīye) was an Iranian religion, which was an offshoot of Zoroastrianism.

The religion was founded in the early Sasanian Empire by Zaradust-e Khuragen, a Zoroastrian mobad who was a contemporary of Mani (d. 274).[1] However, it is named after its most prominent advocate, Mazdak, who was a powerful and controversial figure during the reign of Emperor Kavad I (r. 498–531),[2] until he was killed by Emperor Khusrau I (r. 531–579).[3]

## Contents

* 1 Theology
* 2 Ethics
* 3 See also
* 4 Citations
* 5 Cited sources
* 6 Further reading

## Theology

Mazdakism was a dualistic religion that emerged from Zoroastrian thought, teaching about principles of light and darkness, the mixture of which were said to have created the world.[4] Mazdakites believed it was their duty to defeat the darkness and evil in the world.[5]

Zaradust and Mazdak may have been influenced by Manichaeanism, Gnosticism, or Platonism; however, unlike many Manichaean or Gnostic sects, they eschewed asceticism and did not teach that the world or matter were evil or needed to be renounced.[4]

## Ethics

Mazdakism opposed war, and also opposed the eating of meat, except for potentially when an animal was already nearing its death of natural causes.[6] During the period in which Kavad II was influenced by Zaradust's ideas, he tried to refrain from war and was lenient to his subjects, even enemies.[6] However, Mazdak's followers did believe that it was permissible to use violence when in revolt against their enemies.[6]

The movement also believed in the holding of all things in common to reduce greed.[7] This extended not just to property, but also to the communal sharing of women.[8] Historical accounts differ on whether this belief amounted an intent to entirely abolish private property and marriage, or whether Mazdak simply intended to redistribute property from the wealthy to the poor and end the practice of polygamy.[9]

## See also

* List of Zoroastrianism sects

## Citations

1. ↑ Crone 2012, p. 22.
2. ↑ Daryaee 2014, pp. 26–29.
3. ↑ Crone 1991, p. 21.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Crone 1991, p. 27.
5. ↑ Crone 1991, pp. 27–28.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Crone 1991, p. 26.
7. ↑ Daryaee, Touraj (2022-11-03). "Mazdak and Late Antique ‘Socialism’". https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/cambridge-history-of-socialism/mazdak-and-late-antique-socialism/983BB62BC084EB99AFFC28F60C8F2C5B. ""According to sources in Middle Persian of the late Sasanian Empire (AD 224–651), Mazdak promoted the sharing of women and property.""
8. ↑ Daryaee 2022.
9. ↑ Crone 1991, pp. 26–27.

## Cited sources

* Crone, Patricia (2012). The Nativist Prophets of Early Islamic Iran: Rural Revolt and Local Zoroastrianism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 1–543. ISBN 9781139510769. https://books.google.com/books?id=7k0hAwAAQBAJ&q=false.
* Crone, Patricia (1991). "Kavād’s Heresy and Mazdak’s Revolt". Iran 29. doi:10.2307/4299846. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4299846. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
* Daryaee, Touraj (2014). Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–240. ISBN 978-0857716668. https://books.google.com/books?id=LU0BAwAAQBAJ.
* Kreyenbroek, Philip G. (2012). "IRAN ix. RELIGIONS IN IRAN (1) Pre-Islamic". Encyclopaedia Iranica. XIII/4. pp. 432–439. http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/iran-ix1-religions-in-iran-pre-islamic. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
* Yarshater, Ehsan (1983). Cambridge history of Iran The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian periods. Cambridge. ISBN 978-0-521-24693-4.

## Further reading

* Boyce, Mary (2001). Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Psychology Press. pp. 1–252. ISBN 9780415239028. https://books.google.com/books?id=a6gbxVfjtUEC&q=false.
* Eichenberger, L. (2020). "Communist, Heretic, Rebel. Mazdak and the History of Religion". Zeitschrift für Religionswissenschaft 28 (2): 237–258. doi:10.1515/zfr-2019-0029. https://www.degruyter.com/view/journals/zfr/28/2/article-p237.xml?tab_body=abstract.
* Frye, R. N. (1983), "Chapter 4", The political history of Iran under the Sasanians, The Cambridge History of Iran, 3, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-20092-9
* Frye, Richard Nelson (1984). The History of Ancient Iran. C.H.Beck. pp. 1–411. ISBN 9783406093975. https://books.google.com/books?id=0y1jeSqbHLwC&q=false.

* v
* t
* e

Zoroastrianism

Date|

* Zoroaster
* Vishtaspa
* Parsis
* Zoroastrians in Iran
* Firooz Bahram High School

Concepts|

* Ahura Mazda
* Yazata
* Ahriman
* Amesha Spenta
* Saoshyant
* Zurvanism
* Asha
* Haoma
* Magi
* Anahita
* Fravashi
* Chinvat Bridge
* Frashokereti
* Mobad
* Vohu Manah
* Spenta Armaiti
* Haurvatat
* Mordad
* Atash Behram

The forces of evil|

* Ahriman
* Demon
* Apaosha
* Jahi
* Aka Manah
* Indra

Important people|

* Vishtaspa
* Kartir
* Paul the Persian
* Adurbad-i Mahraspand
* Babak Khorramdin
* Farhang Mehr
* Jamasp
* Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla
* Mazdak
* Book of Arda Viraf
* Zartosht Bahram-e Pazhdo
* Mazyar
* Ardashir I
* Shapur II
* Khosrow I
* Keikhosrow Shahrokh
* Maneckji Limji Hataria
* Zubin Mehta
* Jamsetji Tata
* Meher Baba
* Jahangir Oshidri
* Rostam Giv
* Farangis Yeganegi

Sacred mirrors and places|

* Zoroastrian festivals
* Xwedodah
* Gahambars
* Navjote
* Barsom
* Kushti
* Trial by ordeal
* Zoroastrian calendar
* Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
* Fire temple
* Ossuary
* Tower of Silence
* Chak Chak, Yazd
* Khordad Sal
* Zartosht No-Diso
* Nava Vihara
* Adur Burzen-Mihr
* Adur Gushnasp
* Zoroastrian music
* Fire Temple of Yazd
* Cypress of Kashmar
* Atashgah castle

Religious writings|

* Avesta
* Gathas
* Yasna Haptanghaiti
* Khordeh Avesta
* Bundahishn
* Denkard
* Shāyest nē Shāyest
* Zend
* Pazend
* Menog-i Khrad
* Book of Arda Viraf
* Dadestan-i Denig
* Yasht
* Middle Persian literature
* Dabestan-e Mazaheb

Avesta scholars|

* Ebrahim Pourdavoud
* Mary Boyce
* Karl Friedrich Geldner
* James Darmesteter
* Maneckji Nusserwanji Dhalla
* Friedrich von Spiegel
* Émile Benveniste
* Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron
* Friedrich Heinrich Hugo Windischmann
* Charles-Joseph de Harlez de Deulin
* Martin Haug
* Gherardo Gnoli

Mythical places|

* Vourukasha
* Mazandaran
* Alborz
* Daitya
* Airyanem Vaejah
* Azerbaijan
* Sistan
* Hamun Lake
* Nishapur
* Mount Damavand
* Chak Chak, Yazd
* Kashmar

Personalities|

* Kay Lohrasp
* Vishtaspa
* Jamasp
* Mashya and Mashyana
* Arash
* Tahmuras
* Hushang
* Jamshid
* Esfandiyār
* Peshotanu
* Arjasp
* Abtin

Related animals|

* Simurgh
* Dragon
* Chamrosh

Also See: Category:Zoroastrianism

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