The Julfa's Armenians role in performance of the politics of Silk monopoly and development of Iranian Foreign trade (From Shah Abbass I period to the end of Safavid era)

The prime purpose of this article is to study the Armenians role in Iran’s Foreign trade and in performance of the politics of Silk monopoly، in period of Shah-Abbass I (996-1038 A. H.) and his successors. The Armenians were living in the Frontier regions of north-west of Iran، but then they were transferred، especially for military reasons، by the Shah-Abbas into the Iranian plateau. Certain groups of them، after migration from Aras Julfa، entered in Isfahan and were called to serve in Foreign Silk commerce by the Shah-Abbass I. Hence، the investigation of the causes of Shah’s attention to the Armenians، also their role in Shah’s monopoly politics، especially in the Foreign trade of Silk that was very important، forms the main section of the present study. In another part، the evaluation of their activities in this field، the cancellation of the Silk monopoly and its effect on the commerce of Silk، also the situation of the Armenians until the fall of the Safavid dynasty in 1722 investigated as well. The Armenians، as a Tradesman، were able to find the new Markets for Silk، but dimension of their Trade activities remained unknown in the different areas of the World.