Transfer of Small Arms from Great Britain to Iran (Persia) in the Nineteenth Century

Abstract

In the nineteenth century, technologies concerning firearms evolved rapidly, and their diffusion made tremendous impacts all over the world. As far as the history of West Asia is concerned, except for few examples, this topic has never been seriously been examined. This chapter focuses on the transfer of arms and weapons from Great Britain to Iran (Persia) in the nineteenth century. It analyses the suppliers and recipients, transfer routes and modes of transportation, as well as kinds of weapons. The chapter introduces peculiarities and similarities of this arms transfer by comparing it with other regions and countries around the Indian Ocean and placing it into a broader context.