Document Type : Research Paper
Abstract
In the early years of Mongols’ attack, many of the cultural elements of Iran were destroyed, but after a short period of time, cultural reproduction soon started due to the material and spiritual support provided by scholars and researchers as well as the establishment of cultural and social centers under the aegis of charitable foundations. However, despite the foundation and development of many health centers entitled ‘Dār ـ alshifa’ in this era, studies carried out in this relation have never given the full attention to the role played by the two following motivation factors: culture and endowment. The present study not only introduces the benefactors of the era and analyses their cultural and social motives for building Dār ـ alshifa as, but also tests this hypothesis that during the Mongol ـ Ilkhanid period, benefactors – through their financial and spiritual support of foundations like Dār ـ alshifa as – were able to halt the cultural decline and stagnation in Iran. In order to so, this study adopts a historical method and a descriptive ـ analytical approach.
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