New Routes to Iran’s International Trade in the Safavid Era

Mohammad Ali Ranjbar,Reza Sehhat Manesh

doi:10.5334/aa.124

Abstract

Safavid era (1501–1729) begins a new age in the history of Iran. With the beginning of the Safavid dynasty in Iran, Albuquerque, a Portuguese general, conquered Hormoz Island in southern Iran. Geographical discoveries, in general, and bypassing the Cape of Good Hope, in particular, in South Africa, changed traditional trade routes in Iran’s international trade. Under the new conditions that the Ottoman Empire held western areas of overland trade routes, Silk Road and Spice road failed in playing their former roles. On the other side, religious conflicts in the Safavid, Ottoman and Uzbek drew new plan of religious territories influencing road map. This paper tries to explain new map of Iran’s trade routes through studying Iran and economic and commercial requirements within 16 th century.

Highlights

Iran, on one hand, is located between Europe, Asia Minor, and the Mediterranean lands; and Central Asia, South Asia and Far East, on the other hand
Silk Road starting from China approached to the Black Sea passing through Turkestan, northern Iran and Turkey; and the Spice Road initiating from India led to Mediterranean Sea crossing southern Iran
International trade routes of the Safavid, in particular Shah Abbas depended on international relations and communications with other states; this was of the main significant variables of the positive or n egative role of Iran in choosing trade routes

Summary

Mohammad Ali Ranjbar and Reza Sehhat Manesh

Safavid era (1501–1729) begins a new age in the history of Iran. With the beginning of the Safavid dynasty in Iran, Albuquerque, a Portuguese general, conquered Hormoz Island in southern Iran. Geographical discoveries, in general, and bypassing the Cape of Good Hope, in particular, in South Africa, changed traditional trade routes in Iran’s international trade. Under the new conditions that the Ottoman Empire held western areas of overland trade routes, Silk Road and Spice road failed in playing their former roles. Religious conflicts in the Safavid, Ottoman and Uzbek drew new plan of religious territories influencing road map. This paper tries to explain new map of Iran’s trade routes through studying Iran and economic and commercial requirements within 16th century

Introduction

Conclusion