In the following week I want to introduce some of my favorite socialist characters of various historic eras in celebration of Karl Marx's 200th birthday. First one is Mazdak.
Marx and Engels has done lots of historical researches to establish their theories. They even studied hunter gatherer societies and named them Primitive communism. But I haven't seen anywhere they mentioned Mazdak. He was a Zoroastrian mobad living during Sasanian dynasty in 6th century. He began a revolution both in Zoroastrian religion and social rules. He gained the support of Sasanian King, Kobad who helped him spread his ideas around Iranian Empire. He was executed later and his followers has been chased and executed violently. According to some historian he was the first Communist theorist and leader. He believed in monogamy and promoted vegetarianism. Some said Mazdak and his followers executed while they were buried upside down.
Execution of Mazdak.An illustrated Shah-name. 14 or 15th century.
