Trade Relations between Iran and Mughals during the Reign of Shah Abbas II (1052-1077 A.H/1642-1666 A.D.)

Along with the development of political relations between Iran and the Mughals of India, trade relations started off with difficulty as Shah Abbas prevented the presence of Indian merchants in Iran, therefore, the amount of goods traded between the two countries was insignificant. However, in spite of border disputes after the demise of Shah Abbas trade expanded to the extent that Indian Mughals became one of the largest trade partners of Safavid Iran. As Merchants and active agents of the two countries found a firm foothold in ports, cities, and trade centers of the other country, Iran-India trade developed considerably under Shah Abbas II compared to the previous periods. In regard to the prominent role of Indian merchants in Iranian economy under Shah Abbas II, an analysis of trade relations between the two countries become all the more important. The question remains as to what the implications of political relations were for Iran-India trade during Shah Abbas II. The author has sought to study Iran-India trade relations during the reign of Shah Abbas II and analyze the amount and type of traded commodities and goods and trade routes, and also has tried to assess the impact of political relations on trade between the two countries.