Trade From the Mid-14th Century to the End of the Safavid Period

State promotion of consumerism in Safavid Iran: Shah Abbas I and royal silk textiles

“…At the beginning of his reign, Shah Abbas I faced unstable political and economic conditions and an unpromising outlook. His central government was weak and fragile and foreign enemies created uncertainty ill conducive to growth and prosperity (Ferrier, 1986). The Safavids' access to foreign markets was confined because Uzbeks controlled the trading routes (the Silk Road) to the east, the Portuguese monopolized those in the south, and the Turks occupied the silk‐producing provinces in the north‐west.…”

“…Its total volume of commerce was relatively small compared to other countries, but the Caspian provinces happened to be one of the world's major producers of raw silk. The land possessed the right soil and climatic conditions for growing the mulberry trees that fed the silkworms that could supply both a sizeable domestic silk industry as well as exports to neighboring Islamic countries and to Europe (Ferrier, 1986). Once Shah Abbas re‐conquered these areas, silk became Iran's most important export and played a vital role in state finances by bringing into the country enough silver to supply the mints, increase treasury holdings, and offset perpetual trade deficits with India (Herzig, 1992).…”

“…In order to gain papal support, Shah Abbas I welcomed the residence of Christian missionaries, such as Carmelite friars and the Jesuit fathers, in Isfahan (Waterfield, 1973). He also issued decrees allowing the British and the Dutch to set up cloth factories and trading posts near Isfahan in return for their support and military assistance (Ferrier, 1986). English East India Company traders arrived in 1617 (Steinmann, 1987).…”

“…In Isfahan, the Shah had enclosed a street two km long to house the Great Bazaar and ordered the construction of a group of buildings known as the Qaysariyya or Imperial Bazaar to house royal manufactures. Stringent regulations on the quality and price of merchandise sold to the public were enforced by market inspectors (Ferrier, 1986).…”

Selected Historical Facets of the Presence of Shi‘ism in Southeast Asia

“…91 With regard to Siam, the first Persians in the Ayutthaya kingdom might thus have settled in Tenasserim and Mergui. There is evidence, at least, for Persians in Siam's Burmese neighboring state Pegu and in Malacca for the early 16th century, 92 whereas the number of Persians in the Siamese capital Ayutthaya seems to have remained low by the beginning of the 17th century. 93 Several factors appear to have contributed to an emigration of Persians (mainly from southern India, but perhaps also directly from Iran) to Siam, in particular, during the 17th century.…”