What if IRAN wasn't Muslim, but ZOROASTRIAN? 

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it may sound bitter but it may be the most richest and economically developed countries if zoroastrians was still in iran

Zoroastrian community in India is very entrepreneurial, prosperous and hard working. We call them 'Parsi' people or People from 'Pars' aka Persia.

islamization Of Persia Destroyed everything in Persia

I have to say that a Zoroastrian Iran would have a MAJOR influence in the Muslim World for several reasons: 1. Persian culture and philosophy heavily influenced Islam. Without Iran, it's likely contact with India would be less, and hence, entire fields like mathematics would not have developed the way they did in our timeline. 2. Iran and Afghanistan were the basis for the Abbasid Dynasty, which later conquered the Ummayads in the 8th century and promoted the Golden Age of Islam. Without the Abbasids, the Ummayads might have survived, meaning the Arab World would be far less intellectually developed, a lot poorer, and far less relevant. Incursions into Europe will never happen due to Ummayad instability at the Byzantine's borders, and also due to massive revolts in North Africa and Iberia led by dissenting Muslim sects called the Kharijites, who HATED the Ummayads. In this timeline, and thanks to Kharijism, Iberia would remain Muslim since the areas under Kharijite rule (like Algeria) experienced mass conversions, which were discouraged by the Ummayads, who later ruled Iberia. 3. No Ummayad rule in Iberia would mean a more stable and more Muslim Kharijite south, as well as a stronger Christian North. I doupt, however, that either would conquer the other, instead remaining separate entities to this day and fighting over central Iberia. 4. With the Mongol conquest (if it happened at all since Gengis Khan invaded Iran due to a Khwaresmian provocation), the Muslims in the West would have also been anhiliated, with only Kharijite North Africa and Iberia surviving. 5. No Abbasids means no Turkic migration because there wouldn't have been a Battle of Talas. This means the Chinese and Buddhism would still be influential in Central Asia and among Turkic peoples. This also means that the Byzantines would survive since there would be no Turkic migration into Anatolia.

Long live Zoroastrians and all Persian’s💪💪💚🤍❤️

Non-official polls in Iran show around 8% of Iranians are Zoroastrian now, and its growing. Alot of persian anti-islamic nationalists and anti-regime ppl are starting to convert to it as a kind of objection of the islamic regime.

It would have been a better place if Iran was Zoroastrian.

iran would actually be a respectable country

Today majority Zoroastrian live in india We are proud of them Mr Ratan Tata 🙏 Hindu ❤ Zoroastrian

Muslim mosques are designed based on Mazgats( Mazgat or Mazdagata that means the place of Ahuramazda), a specific fire temple with domes and burning fires under the dome, in many muslim mosques you still can find Minarah that basically means fireplace. Even the Mihrab that is a place that a muslim priest stands to pray and determines the direction of Qiblah is like Mehrab in fire temples that determines the direction of sun and Zoroastrian priests put the holy fire there and stand to pray beacuase in Zoroastrian religion the direction of praying should be toward light and Mehr in Persian means light. Some scholars says Ab was Hap or Ap that means honouring in Avestan so Mehrab means honouring the light but other scholars believe Ab here is changed from Av and Ave that means a room and a place built in the form of a dome and Mehrab means the place of praying toward Mehr and because after Islam new muslim Iranians used Iranian architecture to build their mosques, they built all mosques in the form of domes and they made the part of standing the priest a half-dome and called it Mihrab. You should read more about Iranian architecture and its influence on Islam to get a deeper understanding of it.

long live Iran, respect for Zoroastrian.

Hinduism ❤ Zoroastism... Love from India🇮🇳...

Thanks for making this video 🙏🙂

That would be the best thing for Iran

Very cool video. I find it interesting (I made a What if Persia remained Zoroastrian video too) that we came at the end to similar conclusions :)

I mean the Persian imperial system survived the Muslim conquest and payed a huge role in continuing a Persian identity, I don’t see why not specially if Islam never came

Great vids

Parsis are the richest community in india despite being 60k in land of billions.

We would still have the giant lion statues to enjoy today.

I just wanna say that I really like how you go very specific into these scenarios. Good Work!

RU-vid recommendation is on fire.... please, get this guy the recognition he deserves 🔥👍🏿

Although the Persian/Farsi language uses Arabic scripts, it's not Arabic and belongs to the Indo-European language family, also We are not Arabs.

Very interesting thought experiment. Though unfortunately the comment section like anything online surrounding Zoroastrianism tends to contain more people shitting on Islam than prople genuinely interested in discussing Zoroastrianism.

These are getting scarily good

Detailed analysis. Fantastic maps. Learned a lot. Great video!

Wouldn't Zoroastrianism spread to Central Asia?

Depending on if it was a theocracy again or not it could have arguably been worse, since it'd be the only Zoroastrian country it would discriminate towards more people, but if it was secular, it would have been more like the old Sassanid Empire government policy towards other religions, more specifically, Anushirvan's government.

5:15 without arab conquered, Persian would stopped turkic settlement in western central Asia, so western central Asia would be iranic and likely adopt Persian religion

i saw a doco where a guy visited a Zoroastrian temple in eastern Iran, where they have kept a sacred fire burning for 2000 years. That should count as one of the Wonders of the world.

Pretty good althist. I am curious how this would affect the Eastern Romans and the Muslim World though. The Middle East is heavily influenced by both Greco-Roman and Iranian culture and the Turkish conquest of the Eastern Roman Empire happened after Muslim Turks gradually invaded Anatolia from their power base in Iran. The Seljuk capital was Isfahan.

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How expansionist is Zoroastrianism? Christianity and Islam generally tell followers to convert other nations which often served as a casus belli for invasions or colonization. If Zoroastrianism isn’t like that then it’s possible that we would have a Zoroastrian heartland in Iran with significant minorities in surrounding areas. A strong Persian Empire that isn’t Muslim might also check Arabization into Central Asia and India. It’s even possible without a good sea base the Muslim traders might not have been significantly powerful enough to spread it to Southeast Asia.

The water-loving cotton is native to India (as is the name) not the hyper dry deserts of Arabia, as was/is the weaving of cotton (and kenaf) fibers into those white fabrics they wear in India and Persia. You got this in reverse. Arabs used wool--camel wool usually. They got their cotton ideas from Persia (and India), as they did got their numerals (and paper making from China via Persian)

The Islamic Republic in Iran doesn’t allow men and women born in a muslim family to freely choose their religion, and so many who wish to revert back to Zoroastrianism cannot do that.

Iran: a great civilisation, incl with its Zoroastrism. Until VII century when gulped down & digested by Islam. Iran cannot be great again under Islam. Fortunately, Iran preserves some of its former identity, and together with free & democratic modernity it could relevantly revive

Yes but why do you use for this video the Iran and middle east Map of new middle east project but not the greater Iran.

What if Greece never became Christian and still worshiped old Religion. What if Romans never became Christian and worshiped its old gods snd suppressed Christianity to s point it became near extinct

this video furthur proved to me that iranian culture outweighted and influenced everything it came in touch with and probably the entire histroy and world and we know so little about them

If Avestan and Arabic text look that similar, and the former is much older, then it's clear which was the artistic source for the style, unless it's an epic coincidence which I doubt. That alone is very interesting and may change how people view the interactions between Arabs and Aryans. Yes, the Arabs conquered Iran, but the Aryans may have been who ultimately legitimized and solidified the Arab culture itself.

What if Turkey was Zoroastrian??

I wonder if a sect of Zoroastrianism called something like ''Messianic Zoroastrianism'' as a defense against Islam and Buddhism

I wonder if a sect of Zoroastrianism called something like ''Messianic Zoroastrianism'' as a defense against Islam and Buddhism.

Please pronounce our country name correctly. It's not EYE-ran, it's EE-ran

Islamism: Take over great empires and make them poor.

‌Bad timing for Iran at the time of arab muslim invasion. After the death of Shahanshah Khosro Parviz, Iran had internal power crisis. In a short time many kings took power and dethroned. but it would eventually be solved as before if there wasn't that bad timing of arab invasion for Iran. There was a guy named Atila Hun (similar to Genghis Khan) at time of Sassanids (not bad timing one) and couldn't do anything. they changed their route to Europe and Rome and terrorized them. If Iran didn't defeat to arab muslims. Iran would regained it's stability and would pushed back arab muslims to the deserts of arabia. Iran would be one of the top countries in military, science, economy, ... as before. At the time of Pahlavi dynasty, Iran was on the path to be one of the top 3 countries in the world in economy, ... but western governers like carter had devil plans and cause the Dark 1979 islamic so--called revolution and .... But todays lots of Iranians are leaving islam because they know and feel in every day of their life that islam is the cause of these dark ages of Iran.

IMO I think it would be interesting if the Arab caliphate would redirect it's focus from Iran and into Anatolia, so we get the Greeks absorbed into Islamic culture instead of the Persians and Islam is seen as more of a Western focused region. I'd also imagine there could be a larger Manichean influence in Iran, perhaps one of the Central Asian khanates that conquers them follows that religion and attempts to spread it there.

Would Indonesia still convert to Islam?

I need to know how do you make videos?

Mazder should make a car called Ahurer

پاینده همبستگی ملی گریان ایران پاینده ایران جاوید شاه

هم اسلام ... هم قرآن... هر دو فدای ایران 👑

Great video!

I wonder if a sect of Zoroastrianism called something like ''Messianic Zoroastrianism'' as a defense against Islam and Buddhism hmmm

Maasa would have been alive picking flowers !

Man oh man ... If only ...

I feel like a Byzantine persian alliance would become more normal but by the mongol conquests, i can't say, although i think you're right without persia directly linking islam to the rest of central asia any proceeding caliphate would not be stong enough to completely defeat combined Persian Byzantine assaults (although i don't they would find much success either as egyt and indian trade would stil be alive and well) in the end i think this just means anatolia might remain more Greek Christian but with many turkish warlords and people who would both be Christian and Muslim and iran more persian with still some Islamic influence. But also i feel like Russian Orthodoxy might take the the place of islam in many parts of central Asia as there are records showing of Christian communities living in the area prior to islam existing but also zoroastrianism in there too

We don t want any other governments with religion. Scholar Scholar Scholar

People need to stop talking about Zoroastrianism. Nobody on this thread even knows what it is, or why the Sasanian Empire fell in Iran in the first place. The Zoroastrian clergy were brutal.

In my opinion i think iran might have a future of becoming a Liberal society in the future considering when you look it up on Google it says that there are Christians, Jews and atheists living in the country

Even though you have good information for the most part, some info is not quite correct. Example, the alphabet is of Persian origin which was taken by Arabs since they really had no alphabet.

Even though they are muslims now,they still celebrate the zoro new year

I think you underestimate the British interest in Iran, not for their own benefit, but because if Russia controlled the whole thing it would have a warm water port, which would massively affect the balance of power. I think you underestimate the degree to which muslim subjugation affected Zoroastrianism, and I believe that even if it wasn't wholly missionary, it would likely still have a significant missionary wing. This would shape relationships with Buddhism, where in the east you would probably have fewer buddhists than you suspect, and also large communities in Hindustan and Avaganistan. Where they do overlap you likely have higher levels of tension, with the exception that some regions may have something like a survival of Zurvanism which syncretises the two of them. As a result, they would have less in common with China than you suggest, especially since the Chinese don't identify with religion in the way that westerners do. Others have mentioned that the Zoroastrians are famously trustworthy and industrious, which might lead to a more prosperous and stable Iran. While these traits have ancient heritage, so that even Herodotus mentions their honesty, my guess is that they became particularly concentrated due to the pressures of trying to maintain an ethnoreligious community in the face of significant external pressures. Therefore I think that this Iran might well be better off, it would not be quite so well as others have suggested.

Plz also made a video if spain , portugal and phillipines ramained muslims and never converted forcibly into Christianity.

I think that Kurdistan will remain Zoroastrian if Iran remained Zoroastrian. Kurds are still celebrating the Newroz, or Newroj which is an important day in Zoroastrian religion even though they are Muslims and Christians.

Probebly they would have so much less problems

Mazdaic Republic of Iran I like it ❤ 😊

You can dream for Zoroastrianism. I'm sure the Muslims dreamed for Persia. Their dream came true. May Allah Most High protect it from the Colonial nightmare about to ensue.

All good and well but for future reference learn how to pronounciate the country's name it's Iran like India. It's not an Apple product. Be respectful don't be like your country's presidents and news anchors.

You basically destroyed the Islamic Golden Age (and probably even Islam).

The area controlled by the Mazdaic Republic of Iran would still contain massive oil reserves.

0:38 claimed to get messages from god , get it right

@What Why How could you please make a video about What if Rome annexed the Parthia Empire in 63BC under Pompey.

If I remember oil fields of Iran is in Persian gulf not in fertile crescent.

thanks for your great video i can say as iranian todays iran people arent influenced so much by islam we can say at the biggest point in now days there is atleast 15 or 10 million people who believe in islam in iran today and near 5more millions other religions or they believe in some part of islam but not some part of it most people seeks for zorastrian things much more in these days like the zorastrian Marriage or reading some scripts about it the huge amound of people mostly today doesnt care anymore about the religions but thats doesnt mean they dont care about thier history and their country most of us may be different from each other but our country is the only thing all of us have the same idea about it to fight for it no matter it costs and because of today failure of islam in iran happily we can say most of people can and will destroy the bones of government and make a new one out of it and i think it can have a big impact atleast on the middle east like today we see the eqyptian people telling in media they are not arabs and have history because islamic republic is one of they key things in the islamic world and with out it islam can be faded in countries like turkey iraq syria and even saudi arabia which the ruler take to many tasks to modernize the country i think in some cases we can see better relation with china and india like you said but its erupt some wars of religion but nothing can change the border because of people who will honor them selves for it at the end most of us in iran may hate islam and arabs because they attacked us and their religions have some holes in it but thats deoesnt mean anything personal we dont want to seek revenge for a old war and start killing children and families like barbarian we can know most of people in middle east are not counted as arab but their own races but we accept our neighbors as what they are people are people most of the time leaders and rulers put them infront each others and we know it very well from every part of history in our own country also this video had some holes about how arabs could invade iran im not sure about the castle but i know there were some people who worshiped abrahamic religion mixed with some zorastrian and more named mani and unfortunatly some of the followers betrayed us and help arabs at thats time and byzantine empire thought if the arabs attack persians they could use this as advantage for them selves but they did forgot thats you cant be friend with someone who already sold his soul to a god for killing other people in the name of him i hope someday not only my country but all countries can live peaceful life in this world full shits and thats can be happen only with the power of people not some celestial or spiritual power named god

I do not watched the video but Islam was worst thing happened to persia we saw nothing good from it

If iran stays persian india also stays totally dharmic civilisation

Iran would've been Iamstillrunning

It is not a correct conclusion. Iran right now is on one of its weakest forma arguably after qajar dynasty its the second weakest form right now. In contrast , during achaemenian or sassanid dynasty iran was a super power. It is very likely that if the arab invasion never came as it happened , an strong iran would resist mongol invasion like mamlocks did at egypt later. So the history of world and everything would have been a lot different

If you ever get bored and wanted to know more about ancient persia, you may also search: 1) Persepolis 2) Cyrus, the great 3) cyrus the Great and the Founding Fathers of America 4) cyrus cylinder 7) Alexander the Great cyrus book. Cyropedea writteb by Xenophon, 8) Cyrus the great, in bible 9) Cyrus the great in Quran 10) Cyrus the great anoited by god 11) Cyrus the great messiah 12) Xerces the god king Thnk you❤ Love and peace for all genders and race... tolerance and generosity and freedom and wealth theae are what evey man need to have a happy joyful life... good deeds good words good thoughts otherwize toungue he vsnip snip ✂️😝😂 hehe 😜 Thanks for tideo

What Buddhist country is bad ?

Why can’t Americans pronounce the “i” vowel?. Like wtf is Eye Ran or Eye rak?.

Sassanids would have never applied scorched earth policy. It would have been a great sin to burn lively farms and crops.

Iran is still Zoroastrianism technically

Sir, Islam would have been restricted to Arab peninsula.

the worst possible scenario at least for me

Answer: Persia would have been one of the greatest leader of the whole globe. Most cultured place. Islaam was the biggest curse on Zoroastrians and Hindus.

Iran isn't even muslim since safavid dynasty my friend.

Eranshahr

What would have happened if the Muslims did not burn down the libraries of tisfoon and alexandria.but kept the books and the knowledge

my bro great video but please pronounce in your future Iran as Eran. but besides that I've always wondered want our culture would be...

you are wrong about the alphanet, Iran gave it to them

Caliph Abubakr is not the father of mohammad

Would Türkiye even exist

What if Lusitania resisted Rome

Though i love Zoroastrian even i go see their cities they are still in iran and living but i should say iran in that time because of war with Roman empire gor a thousand years made us so weak and i was like a revolution in iran that time which people wanted a better life and arabs used that .

ASHA IS !!!

The avastan script & Arabic script both are similar because both of them derived from the Aramaic script that reason why Persian use the Arabic script because it's similar to the avastan script

You you should do what if islam penetrated deeper into Europe

Zoroastrianism will return to Iran🔥