The influence of religion on the political and cultural conflicts of dynasties of Gilan

By the emergence of Karkiya dynasty in eastern Gilan and their emphasis on Zaydi Shiite religion, the intellectual activities of followers of other religions and sects became so restricted. Rulers of this dynasty did not take an appeasing and tolerating approach toward opponents who were parts of the religious culture of Gilan, so that followers of other religions and sects were fired from Gilan or left the land during 200-year rule of Karkiyas. Kiyais’ insistence on Zaydi Shia in the BiyahPish region and, on the other hand, the bigotry of Sunni rulers of BiyahPas caused bloody wars at the middle ages of Gilan until the Safavid period. The result of these battles was the burnout of the social and economic system of Gilan and the easy seizure of this land by Shah Abbas Safavi in 1000 AH. The findings of this research show that the root of most of the territorial conflicts of the local dynasties of Gilan and Talesh was the religious disputes. This study is based on a historical approach and a descriptive-analytic study method.