Touraj Daryaee

Touraj Daryaee, a Chair in Persian Studies at UC Irvine and an expert on Zoroastrianism, delves into the fascinating world of this ancient religion during the Sasanian Empire. He discusses the political dynamics that established Zoroastrianism as a state religion and its interactions with Christianity and Judaism. Daryaee also highlights the challenges of sourcing Persian historical evidence, the evolution of Zoroastrianism post-Arab conquest, and the intriguing relationship between Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism, revealing its lasting influence on later religious thought.