پژوهشنامه تاریخ های محلی ایران
سال سیزدهم شماره 26 (بهار و تابستان 1404)

The historical province of Fars was considered as one of the centers of Sunnis before the establishment of the Safavid government, and most of its people were Sunni Shafii but during the Safavid era, Shiism overcame Sunnism in that region, and only in some parts of the southern part of the current province of Fars and the coasts and islands of the Persian Gulf, Sunnis kept their religion. Having used historical-descriptive method, the paper is going to answer the question of how was the process of the expansion of Shiism in Fars during the Safavid era and what tools and strategies did the Safavid government use to promote Shiism. Research findings show that the conversion of Fars people to Shiism was gradual and combined with Taqiya (precautionary dissimulation). Shah Ismail I mainly resorted to negative and violent methods, but Shah Tahmasp took more advantage of positive and encouraging methods and consolidated the position of Shiism in Fars. However the events of the reign of Shah Ismail II and Shah Muhammad Khudabanda showed that a large part of the people of Fars have not yet been converted to Shiism, or that their conversion was not reliable. When Shah Abbas I took over, the situation changed in favor of Shiism, and until the end of the Safavid period, it experienced an expanding process, and if the Safavid government had continued a little longer, it was most likely that at least in the current Fars province, Sunnism gave way to Shiism..

Alī ibn-i Muḥammad Bārzī is a figure who, despite posing a significant challenge to the Buyids in Kerman around 359-361 AH, remains shrouded in obscurity in the events of Iranian history in the 4th century. This is because primary sources have largely remained silent about him, so much so that his name, apart from in Ibn Miskawayh's report, is omitted from all historical records and even from the History of Sistan. However, the existence of a newly discovered coin minted in Sistan indicates his prominent presence in the political sphere of eastern Iran during this historical period. Was there any Sunni Samanid incitement against Khalaf ibn Ahmad Saffar (an ally of the Buyids)? The focus of this research is on identifying the factors behind the formation of ʿAlī ibn-i Muḥammad Bārzī's uprising, his political and military actions, and the reasons for his failure to sustain political power, with particular emphasis on the role of the Samanids. This study aims to redefine part of the political and military events in Iran, specifically in Sistan and Kerman during the aforementioned years, relying on numismatic studies. The findings, derived through a descriptive-analytical approach and the study of historical texts, especially the newly discovered coin, indicate that ʿAlī ibn-i Muḥammad Bārzī's political and military movement was closely related to the policies and plans of the Samanids in the Sistan and Kerman regions and in opposition to the Buyids..

The rulers of the second Pahlavi government did not consider merely distributing land among the peasants sufficient to achieve the goals of land reform. Therefore, they sought to create various organizations in addition to it in order to achieve the goals of land reform in Iran. One of these institutions was the rural culture houses, which included various facilities, including radio and television clubs, libraries, and other cultural and educational services. This research, with a historical-analytical approach and relying on documentary data from the archives of the National Archives and Library of Iran, seeks to examine the role and performance of rural culture houses in West Azerbaijan province during the second Pahlavi era. The innovation of this research lies in analyzing the performance of these houses within the theoretical framework of top-down development and institutional inefficiency. The research findings indicate that the rural culture houses of West Azerbaijan, like other rural culture houses in the country, were unable to effectively implement various educational, cultural, health, and sports programs and activities due to the lack of adaptation of the programs to the most urgent and important real needs of the villagers, the lack of local participation, structural and bureaucratic weakness, and the lack of provision of the necessary infrastructure. This failure reflected the limitations of centralized and non-participatory development approaches in the context of Iranian rural society at that time.

giving are among the most important moral principles in Zoroastrianism. Since ancient times, Zoroastrians have been making themselves and others happy by giving charity and setting up almshouses. Iranian Zoroastrians, especially the Zoroastrians of Kerman, were pioneers in this good deed by dedicating their land, gardens, water, and houses to meet the community's needs and pay for celebrations and students' education expenses. Social and economic pressures and restrictions imposed on religious minorities in the past affected the lives of Zoroastrians and they faced difficult conditions, with poverty and illiteracy being the most important of these problems. Therefore, the emergence of endowments changed these conditions. This article seeks to answer the question of what impact the Zoroastrian endowments of Kerman during the Qajar and Pahlavi periods have on the social and cultural status of the Zoroastrians of this city. The studies conducted in this study revealed that most of these endowments were endowed after the order to abolish the jizya during the time of Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar, which in addition to the internal effects of society, also had an impact on the social status of the city of Kerman. Under the supervision and guardianship of the Kerman Zoroastrian Association in carrying out educational, therapeutic, sports, and ritual work, these endowments had an important impact on the social and cultural status of the Zoroastrians of Kerman. The present study was conducted using the historical research method, which used documents, endowments, and library resources, and was compiled descriptively and analytically.

Jovain is an ancient land with an ancient history, a land that has many famous and honored people. Numerous remains and evidence indicate the importance of the city of Juvin in ancient times. However, the importance of Jovain in the post-Islamic periods and the periods of the Ilkhanids and Timurids is much brighter. However, due to the few archaeological excavations, there are some doubts about the name, the history of its settlement and the original form of the name of this city. The present article studies the word "Jovain", the main purpose of which is to study the name of Jovain in detail throughout history, so that the historical course of the name Jovain has been carefully analyzed. To do this, library research methods, document study and field interviews have been used. Based on numerous texts left from the Islamic era, the etymology of the name of this city has been flawed, such as little attention to the oral traditions of the indigenous people, not considering some important historical texts and sources, little attention to archaeological excavations, and obvious neglect of some historical and geographical features of this land. According to the research findings, "Jovain" is a completely Iranian word with ancient roots, and its etymology includes the following approaches: a land located in two parts of a stream. Jovain bread is made from barley grain. A plain land located between two mountain ranges. Jovain is derived from Kuvi and Barzan, meaning the land of the giver. Jovain, Arabicized as Kavyan or Gavyan, which was changed to Jovain after the arrival of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language by changing "G" to "J".

The historical cities of Iran are a collection of urban spaces and structures that were delimited by gates, and often a wall and a moat. The gates and ramparts could shift over time with the expansion or contraction of the city's perimeter, resulting in variable city sizes. Graves and cemeteries have always held a high status among the people of this country, and as a permanent, well-known, and highly important element in the urban space, they contributed to the city's legibility. For this reason, their use in naming gates, referencing graves based on their adjacent gates in historical texts, and other documents such as inscriptions carved on the tombs, along with the integration and correlation of this information with other existing historical knowledge, helps identify the historical district's boundaries across different periods. The goal of this research—which employs a library study, field visits, and descriptive-analytical method—is to re-identify the boundaries of the historical district of Shiraz during various historical periods based on the location of mausoleums and cemeteries and their alignment with historical data. This is because some of these graves remain, and based on them, one can reach a better understanding of the location of the gates, historical cemeteries, and ultimately the boundary of Shiraz's historical district. Understanding this boundary of the city, in turn, leads to a better recognition and understanding of its other elements in different historical periods. The research findings indicate that the historical district of Shiraz has undergone few changes in its northeastern sector during a period of history and southeastern sector, while remaining almost constant in other areas throughout history.

Due to its economic richness and strategic position, Transoxiana was one of the key financial sources for the Marwanid. The fiscal policies of this era, particularly in collecting Tribute and tax, faced challenges such as local resistance and cultural diversity. Examining these policies is essential, both because of their impact on the region’s economic and political stability, and due to the lack of focused research on the subject. The present study is aimed at explaining the Marwanid financial policies and the rulers’ attitudes toward taxation methods in Transoxiana, through the guiding question: how were these policies formed, and what effects did they have? The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on historical sources to interpret the data. According to the findings, the Marwanid financial policies combined centralized strategies from the era of Abdal-Malik and, the repressive period of Yazid ibn Muhallab, and the reformist phase under Umaribn Abdal-Aziz. Abdal-Malik enhanced efficiency through standardizing the diwan-e kharaj, yet the heavy taxation under Yazid ibn al-Muhallab led to reduced production and uprisings. The reforms of, rooted in Islamic justice, gained public approval but lacked durability due to elite resistance. Nasr ibn Sayyar achieved relative stability through fiscal organization, but the spread of Islam and the resulting tax exemptions lowered state revenue. The current study, through a comprehensive analysis of Marwanid fiscal policies, reveals that the lack of coherence and mismanagement contributed to the weakening of caliphal influence in Transoxiana and highlights the need for deeper inquiry into fiscal systems in Islamic history.

Sharafnameh by Bidlisi holds a special place as one of the significant sources of local Iranian historiography, focusing on the history of Kurdish emirs. This work is the first historiographical source that specifically addresses the Kurds and their connection to the history of Iran. Bidlisi, with his theoretical and practical experience in the bureaucracy of Safavid Iran, offers an objective and historical understanding of the concept of Iran. The main research question is: What is the concept of Iran in Bidlisi’s Sharafnameh, and how is it defined or represented? This research, employing the method of conceptual history, demonstrates that Bidlisi possessed a historical understanding of the land, ethnic groups, and people of Iran, and he perceives and narrates the Kurds within the framework of Iranian history. Despite his presence at the Ottoman court and minor criticisms of the Safavids, he consistently spoke from the perspective of historical understanding and the requirements of Iran. He narrated the history of the Kurdish emirs in relation to the grand narrative of Iran and the “centralized Iranian monarchy,” presenting a concept of Iran that was “trans-ethnic” and “trans-religious,” which is significant in examining the history of the “concept of Iran.”

The relationship between the central government and local powers in Qajar-era Iran was consistently marked by tensions and resistance from regional elites and local actors. The province of Fars, particularly its southern districts such as Larestan, due to its strategic location and the complexity of its social and economic structures, was a prominent arena for such interactions. This study focuses on the rebellion of Mir Hashem Owzi during the early years of Naser al-Din Shah’s reign, aiming to analyze the mechanisms of local resistance and the central government’s response. Based on newly discovered archival documents, reports from the newspaper Vaqayeʿ-e Etefaqiyeh, and other primary sources, the study reconstructs the causes, development, and consequences of the rebellion using a descriptive-analytical approach. The findings indicate that the Mir Hashem Owzi rebellion not only posed significant administrative and security challenges in the region but also exemplified a specific pattern of interaction between the central state and local forces, combining suppression, negotiation, and the granting of political and economic concessions. Examining this event provides a clear perspective on the processes of power centralization and local resistance management in southern Iran during the first half of Naser al-Din Shah’s reign, highlighting the importance of understanding central–local interactions in contemporary historical analysis. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the value of first-hand sources for accurately reconstructing both local and national history.

Prior to the Qajar period, Isfahan’s strategic position along major trade routes made it an attractive destination for foreign merchants. Following its designation as the capital of the Safavid dynasty, a number of foreign trading companies established offices in the city. However, the Afghan invasion and subsequent instability led to the gradual withdrawal of these companies. Their commercial presence remained limited until the establishment of the Qajar dynasty. With the ascent of the Qajars—particularly during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah—British commercial enterprises began operating in various regions of Iran, including Isfahan. These companies engaged in diverse economic activities, the significance of which constitutes the core focus of this research. Accordingly, the central research question is، ص. What roles did British commercial enterprises play in Isfahan during the Qajar era? Given Isfahan’s continued prominence as a nexus of trade during the Qajar period, the city remained of considerable interest to British merchants. By establishing trade offices in Isfahan, they expanded their commercial footprint within Iran. It appears that the presence of British firms contributed to the development of Isfahan’s economy and commercial landscape, and that a degree of collaboration existed between these firms and local Iranian merchants. This study adopts a qualitative methodology based on library research and archival sources, including Qajar-era newspapers. The findings aim to identify the British companies active in Isfahan during this period, examine the nature of their activities, and assess the broader economic, commercial, and social impacts of their presence on the city.

This study examines the historical thresholds of Shiraz as perceived by foreign travelers from the beginning of the Safavid era through the end of the Qajar period. By focusing on the natural and built elements that shaped these entrances, the research explores how thresholds influenced the city’s urban identity and symbolic boundaries across the Safavid, Afsharid, Zand, and Qajar dynasties. Utilizing a documentary-analytical method and qualitative content analysis via ATLAS.ti software, 25 travelogues were meticulously selected and analyzed to provide a unique perspective on the city’s spatial evolution and cultural resonance. The findings reveal that travelers’ perceptions were framed by a dynamic interplay between the natural geography—including the encircling mountains, lush vegetation, and peripheral gardens—and man-made structures such as gates, city walls, domes, and cemeteries. These elements functioned not only as physical markers but as evocative gateways to the broader cultural and historical experiences of Shiraz. Furthermore, the research highlights how the gradual destruction and transformation of these thresholds, particularly the significant alterations occurring during the Qajar period, profoundly changed the city’s urban landscape and its historical identity. By comparing accounts across four key historical periods, the study demonstrates that these entrances were vital to the external understanding of Shiraz’s legacy. Ultimately, this analysis enriches our understanding of how historical thresholds acted as both physical and symbolic transitions, reflecting the city’s evolving identity through the eyes of external observers and documenting a sense of loss for its altered state over time.

Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty can be regarded as a commercially oriented and development-minded ruler. During his reign, Iran’s foreign trade relations experienced remarkable growth. His foreign policy was centered on eliminating obstacles to international trade and firmly establishing absolute control over key trade routes to ensure their security. Beyond relying on traditional commercial pathways, Shah Abbas sought to break free from Ottoman dominance over land routes by securing control over the shores of the Persian Gulf and its islands, while simultaneously playing an active role in the emerging maritime trade spurred by the discovery of new sea routes. This opportunity arose following the destruction of Venetian merchant assets in the Lār region and Shah Abbas’s subsequent legal claims against the Republic of Venice. But why was the fate of these merchants so significant to Shah Abbas? Based on a re-examination of previously overlooked Italian-language sources, this study demonstrates that Shah Abbas—having repeatedly pledged to Venetian authorities through various envoys to serve as a powerful protector of merchants—launched a calculated campaign to conquer Bahrain, Lār, Gombrun, and Hormuz. This was not only aimed at securing and controlling vital trade routes but also at extending the reach of his authority to the shores of the Persian Gulf, thereby asserting his power and enhancing his credibility on the international stage.