Historical Sciences Studies

Abstract With its favorable geographical location, Qazvin has long been a center of civilization in the Iranian Plateau. Due to its strategic importance and being situated on the way to routes going to west and east, Qazvin has always enjoyed military and political significance in both the pre-Islamic and the Islamic period. After the Muslim Arabs’ conquest of Persia, Qazvin became one of the borders of Dar al-Salaam (the abode of Islam). The expansion process of the city of Qazvin, which had previously started since the Abbasid period, was accelerated in the Seljuk period. Following the conflicts between Iran and the Ottomon Empire during the Safavid dynasty, Shah Tahmasb, the First, deemed expedient to choose Qazvin as the capital. This study aims, beside an analysis of the political and military situation of Qazvin over a variety of ages, to examine the historic monuments and constructions of this city, mainly those built in the Safavid period.

Abstract The present article deals with Britain’s competitions with Russia aimed at controlling its policies in Iran; for this purpose, we focus mostly on the developments at the last fifteen years of the 19th century. Part of this period is concurrent with the administration of the British Conservative Party under the premiership of Lord Robert Cecil Salisbury in Britain and Sir Henry Drummond Wolff’s mission in Iran. The present study investigates policies of the Conservative Party against Iran over the said period and looks into the convergences as well as divergences between the British Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Indian Affairs, for finding a solution to safeguard the Indian boundaries against Russia.

Abstract Having a look at the history of Iran, one can realize that, the foundation of governorship in this country was based on two factors, religious belief and tradition, as the Safavids came to power according to the former category and ruled for more than two centuries. The fall of the Safavid dynasty not only ended their ruling, but decreased their holiness drastically. Therefore, from then on the basis of ruling depended more on power and family nobility of ruling classes. The accession of Nadir to the throne of Iran was based on the approach of Iranian people and his power. He suppressed any opposition movements and banished rebellious tribes; nevertheless, created a persuasive ground for other tribal chiefs’ ambition and loving power. The killing of Nadir, offered a desirable opportunity for the tribal chiefs in pursuing their long-standing aspirations. The appearance of many rivals in the scene of political power in order to grab the throne of Iran, produced wars, massacres, looting and homelessness in most part of the country. Considering Shahrukh’s Kingship in Khurasan, Karim Khan’s victories over his rivals, were not pleasant for many of the tribal chiefs. It was very hard to except a low ranking family such as Karim Khan in power. The local governors and tribal chiefs of Far, especially in Larestan, the power of Karim Khan was considered as a serious threat to them in that region. The local ruler in Larestan, like the other region in Iran, was hereditary. On the other hand, the economic foundation of Larestan was completely depended on trade. The local rulers always endeavoured to extend their influence from Shiraz, in north to the shores of the Persian Gulf, in south which could be estimated about 624 km in length. When Nasir Khan took power in Larsetan and Sab’ah, tried hard to deny the authority of Karim Khan so far as possible. This policy produced tensions and conflicts between Shiraz and Lar. Therefore, Naiser Khan decided to support the rivals of Karim Khan, Azad Khan and Muhammad Hassan Khan Qajar. He Would have been appointed as governor of Fars if Karim Khan could be defeated. The purpose of this paper is to study and analyze the relations between Nasir Khan and Karim Khan Zand, according to reliable sources.

Abstract The cultural relation between Iran and France was a result of the Russians' wars against Iran. Hence, the cultural activities of the French Lazariste Missionaries, especially among the Christian society of Iran, make an important part of this relation and a portion of unknown history of the Qajar era that has not been much investigated and reflected. From Mohammad Shah's period (1250–1264 A.H.), the Lezariste Missionaries have begun to establish their cultural and educational institutions, such as many schools, colleges, printing-houses, churches, etc. especially in the western regions of Iran. This trend has continued until the threshold of the First World War. Therefore, the establishment of these institutions and the quality and quantity of their instructions that were in the French language, form a part of this study. The French language that was the most important diplomatic and cultural language of the day, and on the other hand, the interest of many Iranians in European languages, especially French that was instructed by the Lazariste institutions has been investigated in this research. Furthermore, the investigation of the socio-political challenges in front of the Lazariste activities, in order to present a better evaluation of their operations, forms another part of this article.

Abstract The geographic location of the Elamite terrain which lies in parts of today's Khuzestan caused a middle-man-role for this region situated in between water-ways leading to the head of the Persian Gulf and Iranian plateau and Mesopotamia. In addition to the fact that this territory, possessing several rivers, was very fertile, the reality that of one of the most important Iranian trade-routes was crossing Elymais, lead to the development of an economical and trading-center there during the reign of the Arsacids. Archaeological founds like inscriptions, reliefs and, which is most important, hoards of coins left from local Elamite rulers distinctively show the kingdom's glory in the examined period. The existence of two mints at Seleucia-Hediphon and Susa (Seleucia-Eulaeus) might be another evidence for economical splendor. The issued coins of the two evoked mints are influenced by models of the Seleucid Era and bear symbols like moon, stars, horse-head and anchor-like images, the latter not having been entirely studied so far. In recent studies, some link between portraits on the fronts of Elamite coins with ocean, marine and Greek gods related to water and rivers have been discussed as hypotheses. Poseidon and Artemis are of particular importance in this context. The gods Anahita and Nanaya are, as Iranian and Mesopotamian equivalents of Artemis, noteworthy, since based on written records, there existed temples related to them in the region of Mesopotamia.

Abstract The first Border Treaties of Iran, the documents of which are available, were signed in Safavid Period between Iran and Ottoman Empire. Treaties were initially in the form of Royal Letters which were exchanged between heads of countries. They involved acceptance of peace instead of war. Later on, officially sealed documents called Sonurname were exchanged together with them. These documents contain details of border lines such as cities, villages, mountains, valleys, rivers, etc. Moreover, in some cases, the names of the tribes that lived in border area which belonged to each party were mentioned in Sonurname. In the second half of the Savid Period the content of Sonurnames transferred to the Royal Letters in order to be validated.

Abstract The Fars tribes living during the Zand and Qajar dynasties served as some politically and socially influential groups of their period. When the revenues of a tribe did not suffice their necessities, they would attack other cities, mainly Shiraz, where there were abundant wealth and goods, and they would plunder, pillage and murder everywhere. Shiraz was the political center of Iran during the Zand period as well as the center of political power in the vast land of Fars for the Qajar dynasty. In addition, the economic, social and cultural advantages of Shiraz made them establish some congruities and incongruities with the sedentary tribes of Shiraz. The manner, role and influence of this process in the spatial framework of Shiraz from the Zand period up to the end of the Qajar dynasty (1750-1895) have not been examined under any historical studies. The geographical conditions further contributed to such congruities and incongruities among the nomadic-sedentary tribes of Shiraz. This paper deals with the processes involved in the congruities and incongruities established among the nomadic and sedentary tribes of Shiraz which influenced the localities and the cultural, social and economic environments of the city