Society, Economy, Culture, and Language during the Ashkanid Period

People during the Ashkanid reign were living in conditions very much like their Medieval European counter-parts. High taxes, rule of the local aristocracy, obligatory military service, and like. Trade was a very important part of the Ashkanid economy. Iran, as a major cross-road of trade routes from Europe to the east played a key role in the relations of Rome and the far east. Also, Iranian products like swords, carpets, horses, cattle, and so on were of high price in the Roman society, as were Roman clothes and agricultural products to the Iranians.

In the matter of culture, contrary to common belief, Ashkanids did not have an official state religion. It is almost certain that most of the Ashkanid rulers were Zoroastrian, but there is no evidence to suggest that the majority of the people were also the followers of the ancient prophet. Generally, in comparison with their successors, the Sasanids, Ashkanid society was a more open society, and social mobility was a lot easier than the time of Sasanids.

Ashkanid state language was Pahlavi, a dialect spoken in Parthav (Pahlav), which was closely related to Achaemenid language. Early Ashkanid Emperors also used the Greek phrase “Phil-Helen” (Greekophone) to show their affection towards the still powerful Selucid rule, but this was dropped after Mehrdad II in favour of Pahlavi. Pahlavi had an alphabet which was based on the Aramaic alphabet, used in as the administrative language of Achaemenids. There are not a lot of sources remaining from the Ashkanid language, most of them being destroyed by Ardeshir I, founder of Sasanid dynasty. A few remaining sources of Ashkanid Pahlavi can be seen as Official letters, carvings, and a few literary works, mostly in verses, such as “Derakht-i Asurig” and “Ayatgar-i Zariran” which has been handed down to us with great modifications via the Sasanid scholars.

Ashkanids are among the least known of Iranian dynasties, and the details of their rule and the Iranian society during their reign is greatly unknown. This is largely due to destruction of Ashkanid records and books by the order of Ardeshir I, founder of Sasanid dynasty. More and more research is being done on the remaining of their great and long reign, using any source possible, such as coins or private records. With a bit of luck, in the near future, we might be able to know more about this important period of Iranian history.