Abol-Hasan Golestaneh (also known as Abu’l-Hasan ibn Muhammad Amin Gulistana) was an 18th-century Persian historian and official who documented the political history of Iran during the Afsharid and Zand periods. He belonged to the prominent Golestaneh family, a line of Sayyids (descendants of the Prophet Muhammad) originally based in Isfahan.
Golestaneh is primarily recognized for his major historical work, Mojmal al-Tawarikh (The Compendium of Histories), often referred to more specifically as Mojmal al-Tawarikh-e Ba’d-Nadiriyye (The Compendium of Histories after Nader). This text serves as a critical primary source for the history of Iran between the death of Nader Shah in 1747 and the year 1782. It provides detailed accounts of the turbulent years following the Afsharid collapse, the rise of the Zand dynasty under Karim Khan Zand, and the regional power struggles that preceded the unification of Iran under the Qajar dynasty.
Following the political instability and shifts in power within Iran, Golestaneh emigrated to India. He settled in Murshidabad, Bengal, which was at the time a significant center for Persianate culture and administration under the Nawabs of Bengal. It was during his residence in India that he completed his historical chronicles. His writings are valued by modern historians for their insights into administrative practices, provincial history, and the biographical details of contemporary political figures.