Tabriz, The First Center of Modernization and Progress in Iran (First Half of the 19th Century)

During the first half of the 19 the century Tabriz, in lieu of the geographical location, and economic / political privileges of the city, was considered as the center for Iran’s progress and modernization. The Iran-Russia wars and the resulting knowledge of disaster management by Tabriz Dar-e-Saltaneh (house of government) on one hand, and the placement of emissaries of European nations in this city, and the closer interaction of the city with the European culture and the neighboring Russia and Ottoman Empire on the other hand, had transformed Tabriz in to an entrance gate for modern science and technology and all kinds of European goods and products. Furthermore, the large human population and cheap labor force, the vast economical resources that were based on agriculture and livestock, and being located along the main land pathways between Iran and Europe, namely Tabriz-Trabzon and Tabriz-Tbilisi had made this city the center of gravity for Iran’s development.At the same time, the founders of Dar-e-Saltaneh were questioning the reasons for advancement of western world, and the causes behind cessation of their own nation. Sending Iranian students to European schools, construction of first foreign factories in Azerbaijan, importing the first printing machines, translation and publication of new books, and establishing a new educational system based on European schools in this city can be considered as representative of Dar-e-Saltaneh’s attempts for modernization and progress.