Study Guide for Arjomand, "The Shadow of God on Earth: The Ethos
of Persian Patrimonialism"
This is a difficult piece to read, and thus I've made it optional. It
presents the historical and intellectual origins of the Iranian theory
of "kingship" which served to inform Iranian political thinking,
from ancient times to the most recent Shah of Iran, deposed in the Khomeini
Revolution.
Be sure that you know what "patrimonialism" is/was.
How does Iranian "kingship" theory compare with that of the
Judaic world, the Christian world, the Ottoman world?
Are these theories similar, interconnected, completely different?
You've read about the political views of the Ottomans vis a vis their
ruler. How would an Ottoman sultan view the claims to authority of a Safavid
Shah? And how would a Shah view the Ottoman Sultan's claims? Then think
about the views of European k ings and Emperors towards both.