As one of main branches of Shi‘ite Islam，Ismailism has left modern scholars with a rich heritage of literature concerning its history，doctrine and jurisprudence. Western scholarship of Shi‘ism—Islmailism included—dates back to the Enlightenment era and had been greatly influenced by European orientalist traditions. This introductory paper summarizes some of the modern progress made in the field of ，with a focus on the contemporary scholarly works undertaken in the West，by western and Muslim scholars alike.