Iranian Enlightenment

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The Iranian Enlightenment^[1] (Persian: روشنگری ایرانی), sometimes called the first generation of intellectual movements in Iran (Persian: نسل اول جنبش های روشنفکری در ایران), brought new ideas into traditional Iranian society from the mid-nineteenth to the early twentieth century. During the rule of the Qajar dynasty, and especially after the defeat of Iran in its war with the Russian Empire, cultural exchanges led to the formation of new ideas among the educated class of Iran.The establishment of Dar ul-Fonun, the first modern university in Iran and the arrival of foreign professors, caused the thoughts of European thinkers to enter Iran, followed by the first signs of enlightenment and intellectual movements in Iran.

During this period, intellectual groups were formed in secret societies and secret associations. These secret societies included Mirza Malkam Khan's Faramosh Khaneh (based on Masonic lodges^[2]), Anjoman-e Okhovat, Society of Humanity and Mokhadarat Vatan Association. These groups spread their ideas by distributing leaflets and newspapers. These secret societies stressed the need to reform the land and administrative system and reduce the role of the clergy in society, as well as to limit the rulers within the framework of the law.^{[citation needed]}

Secular Iranian thinkers based their work on confronting religious traditions. They were confronted with Shia Islam, which on the one hand was mixed with superstitions, and on the other hand, according to Ali Akbar Velayati, the strictness and intellectual prejudice of some religious people caused intellectual-scientific decline.^[3]

Among the thinkers of this period were Mirza Malkam Khan, Mirza Abdul'Rahim Talibov, Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Iraj Mirza, Mirzadeh Eshghi, Aref Qazvini, Mirza Hassan Roshdieh, Mirza Aqa Khan Kermani, Hassan Taqizadeh, Amir Kabir and Haydar Khan Amo-oghli. Most of these intellectuals expressed their thoughts through poetry and fiction, simple stories and parables that were easy for people to understand and helped to spread Enlightenment throughout Iran.

The first generation of intellectuals in Iran went beyond the borders of the country and influenced neighboring countries such as Afghanistan and the Arab world such as Egypt. People like Jamal al-Din al-Afghani collaborated with most of the great thinkers of this period from Iran.^[4]