Farhad Daftary is Associate Director and Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies. An authority on Ismaili history, he has written and edited numerous books, including Mediaeval Isma'ili History and Thought (1996), Ismaili Literature: A Bibliography of Sources and Studies (2004) and Ismailis in Medieval Muslim Societies (2005).

• 1. Introduction: progress in the study of the Ismåílís; 2. Origins and early development of Shíism; 3. Early Ismåílism; 4. The Fåñimid period until 487/1094: dawla and dawa; 5. The Later Fåñimids and Mustalian Ismåílism; 6 Nizårí Ismåílí history during the Alamút period; 7. The post-Alamút centuries and modern developments in Nizårí Ismåílí history; Select bibliography.

'… magisterial and readable … an impressive survey … there are, in addition, valuable genealogical tables and lists, and a glossary … a standard text for all students and scholars'. The Times Literary Supplement

Farhad Daftary is Associate Director and Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies. An authority on Ismaili history, he has written and edited numerous books, including Mediaeval Isma'ili History and Thought (1996), Ismaili Literature: A Bibliography of Sources and Studies (2004) and Ismailis in Medieval Muslim Societies (2005).

• 1. Introduction: progress in the study of the Ismåílís; 2. Origins and early development of Shíism; 3. Early Ismåílism; 4. The Fåñimid period until 487/1094: dawla and dawa; 5. The Later Fåñimids and Mustalian Ismåílism; 6 Nizårí Ismåílí history during the Alamút period; 7. The post-Alamút centuries and modern developments in Nizårí Ismåílí history; Select bibliography.

'… magisterial and readable … an impressive survey … there are, in addition, valuable genealogical tables and lists, and a glossary … a standard text for all students and scholars'. The Times Literary Supplement

Farhad Daftary is Associate Director and Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications at the Institute of Ismaili Studies. An authority on Ismaili history, he has written and edited numerous books, including Mediaeval Isma'ili History and Thought (1996), Ismaili Literature: A Bibliography of Sources and Studies (2004) and Ismailis in Medieval Muslim Societies (2005).

• 1. Introduction: progress in the study of the Ismåílís; 2. Origins and early development of Shíism; 3. Early Ismåílism; 4. The Fåñimid period until 487/1094: dawla and dawa; 5. The Later Fåñimids and Mustalian Ismåílism; 6 Nizårí Ismåílí history during the Alamút period; 7. The post-Alamút centuries and modern developments in Nizårí Ismåílí history; Select bibliography.

'… magisterial and readable … an impressive survey … there are, in addition, valuable genealogical tables and lists, and a glossary … a standard text for all students and scholars'. The Times Literary Supplement