Investigating the Reasons for the Selection and Continuation of Bushehr as the Representative Office of the British East India Company in the Persian Gulf

East India merchants in the early 17th century succeeded in turning India into their trading base and soon after took control of the land. In this regard, India became an important base for the British East India Company to take over the trade of the region. The Persian Gulf was one of the best markets for East India Company goods. Therefore, the company made every effort to gain the market share in this area; finally, at the beginning of the Zandieh period, it succeeded in stabilizing its position in the region. The British East India Company chose the port of Bushehr as its commercial base in the region and until about two centuries later, made every effort to maintain the base. This study examines the reasons for choosing Bushehr as the center of activity of the British East India Company. Findings indicate that the appropriate depth of the northern coasts in comparison with the southern coasts, the existence of centralized governments and peace and security of the northern coasts, the existence of facilities and resources such as fresh water, support of Iranian domestic governments, valuable Iranian market for British mahout , the possibility of establishing a port and the anchoring of ships off the north coast led to the selection of a company base on the north coast of the Persian Gulf. In addition to all the above mentioned advantages in Bushehr, the existence of administrative, economic and political structures in this city led to the final selection and continuation of Bushehr port as a representative base of the British East India Company.