Telegraph in Khuzestan

Upon the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 AD, at the end of the Middle Age and the beginning of the Renaissance period, some colonial governments such as Portugal, Holland, France, and England came to power in Western Europe. Portugal was the first government to turn to the Persian Gulf in order to gain control over the waterways leading to the Indian Ocean and find access to its wealth and resources. On the other hand, the British government, not wishing to lag behind other European countries, became active and established the East India Company in order to have access to the riches of the East. However, this Company was not content merely with commercial activities in India; rather, it targeted the countries on the coast of the Persian Gulf, which owned great wealth and were deemed as desirable markets for British goods. The Persian Gulf could also function as a fender against the attacks of other colonial governments to India, which was a valuable colony of England at that time. Iran was also among the Persian Gulf countries which were targeted by colonists. During the Qajar period, England tried to gain several privileges in Iran, one of which being the privilege of launching the telegraph line in many Iranian states, such as Khuzestan. Both the British government and the Iranian government and society benefitted from this privilege.