Shahnameh (Book of Kings)

by Ferdowsi · c. 1010 · Persian

PoetryMuslim world

About the book

Ferdowsi worked on it for about 30 years and presented it to Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni. It tells the myths and history of Iran from the creation of the world to the Arab conquest, including the hero Rustam. It helped preserve the Persian language.

Why it matters

Persia's national epic of about 50,000 couplets, telling the history of Iran's kings.