Iranian Diaspora in Maritime Asia: A Study of Sixteenth Century Portuguese Sources

Abstract

In the preceding article,2 the data provided by the Portuguese sixteenth century sources on the Iranian presence in the Deccan sultanates has been analyzed. In a similar vein, the present article will look at other regions of India and on the countries around the Indian Ocean. The case of the shores of Persian Gulf will be left aside, as the Iranian presence there cannot be classified as diaspora. The case of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mogul Empire and other inland kingdoms will also be left aside, as virtually nothing is to be found in Portuguese sources about such states, with which the Portuguese seldom had interaction. In this article we will deal the Persian merchants in the ports of South Asia, undertake case studies of Gujarat and Bengal, and briefly look at the Iranians in Southeast Asia, East Africa and the Persian culture in the Indian Ocean.