Religion in Iran: From Zoroaster to Baha’u’llah

Bausani (1921-88), a professor of Islamic studies at the University of Rome, covers a broad sweep from prehistoric to modern times. He describes the native religions such as Zoroastrianism, which had become the official religion by the third century, and its offshoots Manicheism and Mazdakism and the later messianic movements of Shaikhism and Babism and finally the Baha’i faith. He also explores the branches of Islam that developed in or were important in Persia, in particular Shi’ite and its forms of Isma’ilism and Imami Shi’ism and mystical strains such as Sufism. The original Persia Religiosa was published in Milan in 1959. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)