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Richard Payne is a historian specializing in the Iranian world during late antiquity, focusing on the years from approximately 200 to 800 CE. His research primarily explores the dynamics of Iranian imperialism and how the Iranian (or Sasanian) Empire managed to successfully integrate various populations from diverse social, cultural, and geographical backgrounds, including those from Arabia and Afghanistan, through enduring political networks and institutions. His recent book, "State Mixture: Christians, Zoroastrians, Iranian Political Culture Late Antiquity," delves into the religious diversity within the empire, demonstrating how Syriac-writing Christians carved out their own place in the political culture. He is currently engaged in examining the role of Zoroastrian religious institutions within the ideological and material dimensions of Iranian history.
University of Chicago • Chicago, IL
Associate Professor in the Department of History and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago.
Department of Philosophy