Iranian, European Scholars Explore Iranian-Islamic Civilization in Vienna

IQNA – A two-day conference aimed at re-examining the historical and cultural dimensions of the Iranian-Islamic civilization brought together a diverse group of academics and Iranologists from Iran and Europe.

The scholarly event, titled “Persian-Islamic Civilization: Identity, Components, and Historical Grandeur”, was organized in Vienna by the Cultural Attaché of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Austria. It featured presentations from scholars across various disciplines who gathered to discuss the civilization’s multifaceted legacy.

On the opening day, the inaugural “Bert Fragner Iranology Book Award” was presented. Named in honor of the distinguished Austrian Iranologist, the prize was awarded to Dr. Sibylle Wentker of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The jury recognized Dr. Wentker for her work in translating and editing five volumes of the “Tarikh-e Vassaf” (Vassaf History), a seminal Persian historical text detailing the Mongol invasion and rule in Iran.

The opening ceremony also saw the official launch of the book “Austrian Iranologists”. Published in German by UniDialog in Vienna, the book is a collaborative effort by the House of Iranian Wisdom in Vienna and the Hafez and Purgstall Cultural Association.

In her address, Dr. Elham Malekzadeh, Associate Professor at the Iranian Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies and deputy secretary of the conference, provided an overview of the event’s organization, detailing the number of submissions and the final papers accepted for presentation.

A ‘Creative Encounter’ of Cultures

Delivering the second keynote speech, Dr. Reza Gholami, the Iranian Cultural Attaché in Austria and a professor of political philosophy, offered a broad analysis of the Iranian-Islamic civilization’s characteristics.

“The Iranian-Islamic civilization is the result of a creative encounter between Islam and an ancient, deeply rooted Iranian civilization,” Gholami stated. He described it as a synthesis formed from a 3,000-year legacy of state-building, an advanced administrative system, a deep philosophical tradition, and continuous cultural heritage.

He highlighted Iran’s role in shaping philosophical wisdom, the flourishing of Persian literature and mysticism, and the expansion of a cultural sphere from Anatolia to the Indian subcontinent.

Gholami characterized the civilization as a “distinct example of the synergy between philosophical reason, mystical intuition, and religious revelation”, which he said produced a coherent system of thought, art, politics, and ethics that remains relevant today.

Day Two: Online Panels and Interdisciplinary Research

The conference’s second day was held entirely online, featuring two separate panels.

The first panel, chaired by Malekzadeh, covered topics including mysticism in the Zagros region, the role of storytelling in preserving identity, and the functions of calligraphy in non-religious architecture.

Other presentations analyzed the Persian language’s role in civilizational continuity, the concept of Iran in the works of contemporary Afghan thinkers, and the pacifist foundations within Iranian intellectual tradition. The panel concluded with a review of the book “A Look at Glorious Iranian Civilization”.

The second panel focused on historical, medical, and economic themes. A key area of focus was the transmission of knowledge, with multiple presentations examining the institutionalization of medicine in the Sassanid era and the role of the Academy of Gondishapur in transferring ancient Iranian medical knowledge into the Islamic period.

Presentations also explored the intellectual evolution of Iranian historians, the economic foundations of modern Iran, and the history of labor and economics in the country.

Conference Concludes with Call for Scholarly Independence

At the conclusion of the second panel, Malekzadeh read the event’s final statement. The statement emphasized the need for the integration of Iranian and civilizational studies, a systematic connection between Orientalism and Iranology, and the importance of maintaining scientific independence from political and ideological pressures.

It also called for strengthening a culture of academic criticism and open dialogue, identifying research gaps, and developing interdisciplinary studies. The statement underscored the importance of supporting the creation of authoritative academic works and establishing a long-term research agenda to deepen the global understanding of the Iranian-Islamic civilization.

The conference concluded with an expression of hope for continued scientific interaction between Iranian and European researchers and the possibility of holding a second conference next year.