The History of Shiism in Ghomess (Semnan Province) up to the Safavids Era

Ghomess is the name of an extensive area on the skirts of Alborz Mountains including today cities of Semnan, Damghan, Bastam and Garmsar. It was a very large district of the great Khorasan during the early Islamic era, being located on the course of Silk Road as a main station. Due to where it was located, Ghomess soon became an attractive resort for the Moslems, especially the Shiites who were deeply dedicated to the Household of the Prophet. This thesis surveys the reasons behind the spread of Shiism in Ghomess in addition to its historical and geographical background up to the Safavid era. The most important reasons that could be mentioned during the first five centuries (A.H) in this regard are: the immigration of descendants of Shiite Imams (Sadat) to this area, presence and missionary activities of some disciples of Imams there and its being under the dominance of some Shiite governments like the Alavids of Tabaristan and the Buyids. From the fifth century on some developments like Ismailis^, arrival in Ghomess with their Shiite inclinations who employed strongly-built castles there as their fortress, Sarbedaran^, s uprising, conquering Damghan and founding the Shiite dynasty of Marashis of which Ghomess was a main site resulted in the strength and persistence of Shiism in the area. In addition to political powers mentioned, from the Seventh century on Sufism also began to spread in Ghomess resulting in the rise of some religiously-tolerant scholars like Alauddoleh Semnani seeking an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence rather than the previous ultra-orthodox Sunnite movements and thoughts paling before them.