Khorasan, the Birthplace of Post-Classical Philosophy, a Land in Decline?

Post-classical philosophy in Islam developed during the sixth/twelfth century in the eastern Islamic lands, in Iraq, Iran, and what is today Central Asia. Tracing the conditions and circumstances of its development requires an understanding of the political context, the patterns of patronage, and institutions of higher education and of research during this era. This chapter offers an introduction to the political history of the sixth/twelfth century with a focus on the courts that offered patronage to philosophers, and it analyzes the proliferation of madrasas during this era and their role for higher education and research.