Sectarian and National Movements in Iran, Khurasan and Transoxania During Umayyad and Early Abbasid Times

Keywords: Nationalism, Iran, Persia, Khurasan, Transoxania, Abbasid, Zoroastrian, Kharijis, Khurammis, Ismailis, Imamiyya, Khidash

This article discusses the history of opposition to existing rulers by various ethnic and religious groups throughout the Umayyad and Abbasid empires. Various communities also offered a substantial amount of opposition to the Sunni establishment. Toward the end of the Abbasid reign, resurgence in Persian culture and language facilitated the establishment of decentralised, local, ruling dynasties throughout the Abbasid lands. Therefore, until the arrival of the Mongols, the Abbasid had to contend with uprisings and revolts, a number of which expressed strong local, cultural, and linguistic influence.