Journal of Historical Researches
Year:2010 | Volume:46 | Issue:1 (5)|Papers Count:7

The present article pays special attention to several important points regarding the formation of the Safavid dynasty. First, the causes that led to Mirza Ismail Safavi's entrance to Gilan and choosing this region as a haven in order to emancipate from the Aq-Quyunlus. Then the policy of the local government of Gilan, Mirza Ali Kia supporting Mirza Ismail and his followers will be discussed. Finally the causes of the uprising and exiting of Mirza Ismail from Gilan is studied and analyzed. This research endeavors basically on the Safavid sources, hilighting the above mentioned points and comparing them with new research sources about the role of Gilan in the formation of the Safavid government.

In spite of the prohibition put on paintings by Muslims, especially Sunnites, this art has never been annihilated in the medieval Islamic period. Paintings on the palace ceilings, walls and also pages of the first Arabic books and images minted on the Islamic coins, were all of the manifestations of painting durability among the Muslims. Due to common daily usage of the Islamic coins, these played an important part in Islamic painting circulation. The available illustrated Islamic coins such as some ones of the time of Caliph al Muktadir bi Allah (c. 907-932) are supposed to be the indicator of a stream which strongly flew later on and finally joined Baghdad painting school as a main factor.

This research endeavors to assess the following questions on the following topic. Mohammad Khan Balouch was one of the political and military elite at the end of Safavid dynasty. He was supported by the racial group called Balouchs and helped by Sunnite sects in southern parts of Iran what were the main factors for his rise? What were the fate and the results of his movement?The rebellion happened during 1729-1733 after the invasion of Isfahan by the Afghans during Nadir's effort (Tahmasb Qoli) for deporting Afghans. He first joined the Afghans and was sent to the Ottoman embassy on their behalf. He was chosen as the Commander of Nader's army after his coming back to Iran and the Afghan fall, and then found his way to Kohghiloye domain. The situation for his power-taking rebellion was provided by Nader's preliminary failure in war with the Ottomans, public dissatisfaction with his tax collection, the following of the Sunnite men in the south and especially the racial support of Balouchs. The point is that the conflicts extended to vast regions, like Kohghiloye, Fars and Balouch residential parts, consequently; it followed by other religious problems in the Sunnite residential parts and racial discriminations amongst the Balouch residencies. This essay includes Mohammad Khan's rebellion on the verge of the change of the Safavid dynasty to Afsharid's. It analyzes the effective factors in rebellion and religious and political changes as well.

With the beginning of the Ilkhanid era, the Iranian bureaucracy restored the traditions and bygone methods. The Ilkhanid coins demonstrated the socio-political and religioeconomic developments in aforementioned era. Ibaqa -who was a Buddhist trained by his mother Du Quz Khatun- was interested in Christianity. He married Maryam -The Roman Emperor's daughter- and his tendency was increased towards Christianity. Although he was enemies with the Egyptians and Golden Camp Muslims and fought against them, his coins had the sign of the "Lion and Sun" and the slogan of "No god unless Allah, and Muhammad is his Messenger". These slogans indicate that he wanted to attract Iranians toward his aims. On the other hand, the effect of Iranian bureaucracy can be seen on aforementioned coins. The sign of phoenix on the coins of Ilkhanids and the sign of the Cross actually are indication of influence of Chinese Buddhists and Christianity respectively. In addition, the coins of Ghazan and Uljayto had the Islamic and Shiite moUos. This study tries to evaluate the political, economy and religious conditions of Ilkhanids era according to the coins of mentioned dynasty.

Modernist education is counted as a shiny jewel of Iranian efforts for reaching national harmony. These actions that started slightly before the Constitutional Movement tried to found a society based on Iranian identity and acquaintance, in which Iran's history was declared as a preparation for achieving national unity. This study aims at recognizing the meaning of Iranian identity in historical school textbooks from the beginning to the end of the Reza Shah era. The researcher has used trend study in order to find out the historical developmental process of reflection the meaning of Iranian identity in school's textbooks. The results highlighted that history had a high portion to teach a meaning of Iranian identity to Iranian graduated.

One of the main problems in the political structure of Qajarid government was the issue of succession and heir apparent. This issue made the government and country face crisis and civil war time and again. Although Agha Mohammad Khan's will and tribal customs were supposed to be admitted as a rule for choosing successors, it was never considered to be an accepted rule in political and official structure of the government as well as by the superior classes. This rule was established to let Qavanloo tribe stabilize and continue their kingdom, since they were the founder of the dynasty. The quarrel and fight among princess, the aggregation among court, bureaucrat and militaries as well as Russia and Britain's meddling were major factors in choosing successors. From time to time, these factors strengthened the crisis and caused civil war. Furthermore, the situation of Qajar's government and their foreign policy was weakened because of the foreigner penetration in choosing successors.

When the Safavid dynasty was on the verge of collapsing both socially and politically, many Iranian families fled to India. Many of them were employed in the East Indian Company. Others were employed to service the British government of India Their services to the English, as a group of non-English and non-Indian and as Muslims has its great importance. Mir Abdollatif Shooshtari grandson Nematollah Jazayeri, a prominent cleric of the Safavid era, a member of the Sadat family of Shooshtar, who had studied more than 20 years in a religious school in Iran and Iraq, during the chaotic period in Iran, emerged to India. He had spent about 6 years in Bushehr, Basra and Baghdad, and managed his brother's commercial affairs. Then he moved to India and did the same activities for a short time. After his arrival to India, he established his relations with British and became one of consolers of the East Indian Company. His brothers and cousins were also employed by this company. Mir Abdollatif mentions some Iranians who had collaborated with the British against Tipu sultan. This collaboration of Iranian \yith British during the early years of British colonialism had its importance. Dr. Hayery believes that these Iranias were uninformed about British colonial goals. However this research showed their awareness, especially Mir Abdollatifs towards the British colonial efforts in India.