Mazdakites

Mazdakites were a religious and social movement that emerged in the Sasanian Empire during the 5th and 6th centuries CE. The movement was founded by Mazdak, a Persian nobleman who claimed to have received divine revelations. Mazdakites believed in a dualistic worldview, where good and evil were in constant struggle. They rejected the traditional Zoroastrian concept of the eternal struggle between Ahura Mazda and Angra Mainyu, instead proposing a more dynamic and interactive relationship between the two forces. Mazdakites advocated for a more egalitarian society, challenging the existing social hierarchy and advocating for the redistribution of wealth. They also proposed a new calendar and a new system of weights and measures. The movement gained significant support among the lower classes and rural populations, but it was ultimately suppressed by the Sasanian government. The Mazdakite movement had a lasting impact on Persian religious and social thought, influencing later movements such as Manichaeism and the dualistic tendencies within Zoroastrianism.