- Middle East -

In the 7th century, the Arabs who had just become Muslim conquered the Persian Sasanids kingdom. From then on, Islam was first state and later the popular religion within the territory of present-day Iran. However, the ancient Persian religion, the Zoroastrianism, which had its last and greatest splendor under the Sasanids, was partially persecuted and increasingly marginalized by mounting change of religion. The religion survived, however, partly in an unfavorable, partly in a freer and more tolerant climate in Iran to the present day.

Further information about the Zoroastrians

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