Mazdak (in Persian مزدک) (died c. 529) was a proto-socialist Persian philosopher who gained influence under the reign of the Sassanian king Kavadh I. He was hanged and his followers were massacred by Khosrau I, Kavadh's son. He was the founder of the philosophy called Mazdakism, whose adherents share the dualistic cosmology/theology with Manichaeism. Under this dualism, there were two original principles of the universe: Light, the good one; and Darkness, the evil one. These two had been mixed by a cosmic accident, and man's role in this life was through good conduct to release the parts of himself that belonged to Light. But where Manichaeism saw the mixture of good and bad as a cosmic tragedy, Mazdak viewed this in a more neutral, even optimistic way. Mazdak preached that the mix of good and evil had touched everything, except God ^{[citation needed]}. Persian, also called Farsi or Parsi, is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Tajikistan and by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ... Motto: Persian: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ« (English: Independence, freedom, (the) Islamic Republic) Anthem(s): SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Capital Tehran Largest city Tehran Persian Government Islamic Republic  - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Establishment 550 B.C.E Cyrus the... A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... The Sassanid Empire in the time of Shapur I; the conquest of Cappadocia was temporary Official language Pahlavi (Middle Persian) Dominant Religion Zoroastrianism Capital Ctesiphon Sovereigns Shahanshah of the Iran (Eranshahr) First Ruler Ardashir I Last Ruler Yazdegerd III Establishment 224 AD Dissolution 651 AD Part of the History of... Kavadh I also known as Qobad I (449–531), son of Peroz I of Persia (457–484), was a Sassanid King from 488 to 531. ... A coin of Khosrau I Khosrau I, (Most commonly known as Anooshiravan also spelled Anushirvan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anooshiravan the Just (انوشیروان عادل, Anooshiravan-e-ādel) (ruled 531–579), was the favourite son and successor of Kavadh I of Persia (488–531), and the most famous and... Religious cosmologies are ways of explaining the history and evolution of the universe based, at least in part, on the acceptance of principles that cannot be justified by accepted scientific arguments (those are otherwise generally considered via physical cosmology). ... Theology (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, word or reason) means reasoned discourse concerning religion, spirituality and God. ... Manichean priests, writing at their desk, with panel inscription in Sogdian. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ...

The two distinguishing factors of Mazdak's teaching were the reduction of the importance of religious formalities -- the true religious person being the one who understood and related correctly to the principles of the universe -- and a criticism of the strong position of Zoroastrian clergy, who, he believed, had suppressed the Persian population and caused much poverty. In many ways Mazdak's teaching can be understood as a call for social revolution, and he has been called the "first Socialist in history".^{[citation needed]} Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra, Zartosht). ... It has been suggested that Revolutionary be merged into this article or section. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ...

Mazdak emphasized good conduct, which involved a moral and ascetic life, no killing and not eating flesh (which contained substances solely from Darkness), being kind and friendly and living in peace with other people.

Despite the concepts of good conduct, the followers of Mazdak raided the palaces and harems of the rich, removing the valuables to which they believed they had equal rights. Facing the unrest in the empire, the King Kavadh I, ruling from 488 until 531, converted to Mazdakism. With his backing Mazdak could embark on a program of social reform, which involved pacifism, anti-clericalism and aid programs for helping the poor. Mazdak had government warehouses opened to help the poor. Mazdak had most Zoroastrian fire temples closed, save three. In the Arab tradition, imitated by other Muslim cultures, the harîm حريم (compare haram) is the part of the household forbidden to male strangers. ... Kavadh I (449–531), son of Peroz I (457–484), was a Sassanid King from 488 to 531. ... Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence as a means of settling disputes. ...

His programs were so dramatic that rumours told that he planned to have all private property confiscated, and replace marriage with free love. This page deals with property as ownership rights. ... A marriage is a relationship between or among individuals, usually recognized by civil authority and/or bound by the religious beliefs of the participants. ... The term free love has been used since at least the nineteenth century to describe a social movement that rejects marriage, which is seen as a form of social bondage, especially for women. ...

Fear from among the nobility and Zoroastrian clergy grew so strong that Kavadh was overthrown in 496, but he managed to get the throne back three years later with the help of the Hephthalites. Scared by the resistance among the powerful, he chose to distance himself from Mazdak. He allowed his son, crown prince Khosrau, to launch a great campaign against the Mazdakis in 524 or 528, culminating in a massacre killing most of the adherents, including Mazdak himself and Kavadh's oldest son. Some survived, and settled in remote areas. Small pockets of Mazdaki societies survived for centuries, and were eventually absorbed by Central Asian Buddhism. The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the door of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... The Hephthalites, also known as White Huns, were a nomadic people who lived across northern China, Central Asia, and northern India in the fourth through sixth centuries. ... A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found in Sarnath, near Varanasi. ...

We have no direct sources of Mazdakism: none of their books have survived. Our knowledge is made up of brief mentions in Syrian, Persian, Arabic and Greek sources, and much of the information is written by opponents of Mazdakism.

External links

• Religions of Iran: Mazdakism
• Encyclopedia of Orient: Mazdakism
• History of Zoroastrianism: Mazdak