Crisis, Collapse, Militarism and Civil War

Abstract

Eighteenth-century Iran is of central significance to the modern history of the country, but as a field of study it has been neglected. It was a century of revolt, war, political disorder, anarchy and lawlessness, disruption of trade, economic collapse, famine, emigration, and general misery. It has been estimated that the population of the country fell from around 9 million at the beginning of the century to perhaps 6 million at the end. In the 1720s it seemed likely that Iran would disappear altogether, partitioned between her neighbours. Within a few years the country surged back to make a bid for regional dominance under the military genius Nader Shah, but lapsed again into civil war after his untimely death in 1747. The civil wars lasted almost until the end of the century, albeit with an interlude of relative calm and good governance under Karim Khan Zand. In 1796, after more civil wars, Agha Mohammad Shah had himself crowned as the first monarch of the Qajar dynasty, which would last until 1925. This book brings together the best scholarship available on many disputed and controversial aspects of this crucially formative period of Iranian history.