Two Lower Classes of Iranian Society During the Ilkhanate: Sorcerers and Beggars

Two Lower Classes of Iranian Society During the Ilkhanate: Sorcerers and Beggars

The social layers of Iran during the Ilkhanate can be divided into three categories: social leaders (such as Sufis and jurists), middle layers (such as physicians, youths, architects, etc.), and lower classes. In fact, in Ilkhanid society—like many other medieval societies—while the greatest influence came from the upper and then middle classes, it should not be overlooked that neglecting the lower classes does not mean they are unimportant. These social groups are, in fact, manifestations of the hidden power of society and the underlying layers of the community, which, although they cannot be defended, reflect social realities. These realities often reveal the hidden life of society. 

Groups such as prostitutes, ruffians, sorcerers, and thieves belong to this category. All of these groups in some way represent the standards of the target society. During the Ilkhanate, the two classes of sorcerers and thieves were not present as a prestigious group but rather as immoral layers, to the extent that sorcerers participated in political conflicts and struggles at the court, while on the other hand, thieves and so-called "Sasi" of the cities had become so powerful that they sometimes produced their own writings and operated as a separate and independent guild in this regard. 

Shideh / M. Sadeghani