Ismaili Studies: Background and Modern Developments

Keywords: Shi‘i, Nizari Ismaili, Ismailism, Ismaili Studies, Sunni, Assassin legends, Black legend, Old Man of the Mountain, Marco Polo, orientalist scholarship, manuscript.

Abstract: For most of their history, the Ismailis have been studied almost exclusively on the basis of evidence provided by their enemies, but the last few decades have seen significant changes. Dr. Daftary outlines the development of the myths surrounding the Ismailis and focuses on the deconstruction of these fabrications, emphasising the positive direction in which Ismaili studies has been moving in recent years. A new generation of scholars have continued to build upon the work of pioneering scholars and some key discoveries, generating new perspectives from which to study the history of Ismailism.