Two Centuries of Silence

The book “Two Centuries of Silence” written by Abdolhossein Zarrinkoob, a prominent scholar of Iranian culture, history, and literature, is about the historical events and conditions of two centuries in the land of Persia (Iran) following the advent of Islam in the 7th century CE. This historical book covers events from the Arab invasion to the establishment of the Tahirid dynasty. Zarrinkoob provides an extensive discussion about the significant and lasting impacts on Persian literature, language, culture, and society during the two centuries after the Islamic conquest of Iran. He explains how Persians, during this nearly “two centuries of silence,” adopted Islam/Arab influences socially, culturally, and politically. He describes the conquering Arabs during the period of Iranian silence as uncivilized, barbaric, and naive individuals. Zarrinkoob wrote this history during an era of renewed Iranian patriotism, and the text is recognized as a primary source of Iranian history.