University of Sistan and Baluchestan Journal of Historical Researches of Iran and Islam 2345-2099 19 37 2025 11 06 A Historical Perspective on the Formation and Establishment of Religious Minority Schools in Yazd (1796–1979AD) A Historical Perspective on the Formation and Establishment of Religious Minority Schools in Yazd (1796–1979AD) 1 37 9549 10.22111/jhr.2025.52569.3807 FA Seyed Mansor Amami Maybudi Assistant Professor of Islamic History of Iran, Farhangian University (Pardis Shahidan Pakanzad Yazd),Yazd.Iran. Journal Article 2025 08 03 The diversity of religious minorities in Yazd and the long-standing coexistence of Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews alongside one another have historically led to the emergence of a multicultural society in this city. These religious minorities, by virtue of their particular social conditions and their enjoyment of certain civic privileges, played a significant role in the development and growth of education and the formal educational system in Yazd following the Constitutional Revolution. At the same time, they themselves underwent important transformations throughout this process. As Yazd was among the first cities and regions in which the educational system experienced fundamental changes, the religious minorities residing in the city were also among the earliest and most influential groups involved in these transformations. In particular, Yazdi Zoroastrians, with their rich historical and cultural background, carried out effective activities in this field. Among them, the Association of Yazdi Zoroastrian Elders residing in India, possessing strong foundations of Iranian identity and a deep emotional attachment to their homeland, along with positive memories of coexistence with Muslims, played a more prominent role in the transformations of the educational system. The rapid expansion of education was further facilitated by the printing industry, the growth of newspapers, and the establishment of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Jewish boys’ and girls’ schools. This article seeks to answer the following question: what were the motivations, reasons, contexts, and roles of religious minorities in the establishment, growth, and development of schools and education in Yazd? Given the historical nature of this inquiry, a descriptive examination of how and why schools were founded precedes the analysis of exploratory data, which are primarily based on archival documents, library sources, field studies, and interviews.<br /><br /><br /> The diversity of religious minorities in Yazd and the long-standing coexistence of Zoroastrians, Christians, and Jews alongside one another have historically led to the emergence of a multicultural society in this city. These religious minorities, by virtue of their particular social conditions and their enjoyment of certain civic privileges, played a significant role in the development and growth of education and the formal educational system in Yazd following the Constitutional Revolution. At the same time, they themselves underwent important transformations throughout this process. As Yazd was among the first cities and regions in which the educational system experienced fundamental changes, the religious minorities residing in the city were also among the earliest and most influential groups involved in these transformations. In particular, Yazdi Zoroastrians, with their rich historical and cultural background, carried out effective activities in this field. Among them, the Association of Yazdi Zoroastrian Elders residing in India, possessing strong foundations of Iranian identity and a deep emotional attachment to their homeland, along with positive memories of coexistence with Muslims, played a more prominent role in the transformations of the educational system. The rapid expansion of education was further facilitated by the printing industry, the growth of newspapers, and the establishment of Zoroastrian, Christian, and Jewish boys’ and girls’ schools. This article seeks to answer the following question: what were the motivations, reasons, contexts, and roles of religious minorities in the establishment, growth, and development of schools and education in Yazd? Given the historical nature of this inquiry, a descriptive examination of how and why schools were founded precedes the analysis of exploratory data, which are primarily based on archival documents, library sources, field studies, and interviews.<br /><br /><br /> https://jhr.usb.ac.ir/article_9549_c9b3e6b415bc2633b3e22e97bde610c1.pdf