Kurdistan Before Islam: A Religious History

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Pre-Islamic Kurdistan possessed a diverse religious landscape including ancient Iranian faiths like Zoroastrianism and Mithraism, alongside indigenous traditions such as Yazidism and Yarsanism. The region also hosted communities practicing Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Judaism, and at one point, Manichaeism. This complex mosaic resulted from Kurdistan's strategic location as a crossroads of civilizations, fostering cultural and religious exchange over millennia. The eventual arrival and spread of Islam starting in the 7th century CE gradually shifted the dominant religious identity, though pre-Islamic elements and distinct faiths persisted and continue to influence Kurdish culture and identity today.

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This page was created on: April 14, 2025 and last updated: