Matthew Melvin-Koushki. “The Occult Sciences in Safavid Iran and Safavid Occult Scientists Abroad”

This chapter on the occult sciences from Matthew Melvin-Koushki argues that the Safavid period was broadly continuous with earlier scientific production despite the social and religious upheavals experienced under the dynasty. The author points to a lack of research due to the modern dismissal of this particular branch of authoritative knowledge. Critical for the harnessing of imperial sacral power, the author argues that the occult sciences and their techniques occupied the textual output of

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