Cause and Effect Examination of the Functions and Mal-Functions of Tea-Houses in Safavid and Qajar Eras from the Perspective of Social Development and Continuity

Iran’s urban spaces over the Islamic period can be considered a combination of completely interwoven public and private spaces. Tea-houses as new social places formed a new kind of urban socialization from Safavid period onwards. Taking various functions, the places played a significant role in developing public issues. The places at the beginning had a recreational function, though the function undertook changes as religious context of Iran and its events influenced them, so that they experienced many changes. Exploring the functions of the spaces will provide a view to the study of socio-cultural history of Iran’s society. Such a study requires due attention, investigation, and analysis of all its dimensions affecting the socio-economic and political relations. Taking the issues into consideration, relying on library resources, and applying a descriptive-analytical approach, this study dealt with various functions of tea-houses and their development over Safavid and Qajar periods. The results showed that the recreational-leisure, religious, literary, artistic, and political functions of the places have changed continuously over the periods. The functions are assumed to be abstract and independent, but due to the religious context of Iran and Iranians’ strong religious beliefs over the periods, the functions sometimes have been intermingled. Tea-houses have had positive influences on preserving and spreading national, ethnic, and religious culture and some artistic manifestations of Iran. They, however, have not been void of some mal-functions and increasing social crimes. The mal-functions became more expanded when modernistic elements expanded in Iran society in Qajar era and drastically influenced other functions.