Armenians of Iran (Part 3 of 3)

Iran's introduction to the 17th century international scene was relatively smooth, calculated, and well executed. As a new competitive economic power in the region, Iran's Shah Abbas I the Great (1587-1629) masterminded the Safavid dynasty's bold strategy, challenging both the Ottomans and the Mughuls. Abbas's reforms weakened Ottoman desire to invade Iran, strengthened Iranian industry and agriculture and, most importantly, ushered in an era of tolerance and mutual understanding among the Muslim population of Isfahan and the Christian communities of Iran.

Looking back on Iran's long history, Shah Abbas's strategy makes good sense. As early as the Parthian era, when the city of Urfa became the center of the Christian faith, Iranian monarchs had placed a considerable amount of political weight on their treatment of individuals and groups that did not share their religious ideology. Armenia, for instance, remained a bone of contention between Iran and Rome until the rise of Islam. At that time, Armenians were treated royally whenever they chose to cooperate and quite the reverse when they chose to uphold the interests of their coreligionists. Shah Abbas, in a way, adopted the same tested strategy. He treated the Armenians harshly when they were likely to fall into Ottoman hands but quite royally when they proved to be useful in furthering his plans.

Early in his reign, Shah Abbas moved Iran's capital and seat of government from vulnerable Tabriz to the security of Isfahan, an already existing city well-known as a commercial center on the Silk Road. Then, encouraged by Iran's increasing economic, military, and political relations with the west (read the Papacy and Spain), he transferred the entire Armenian population of Jolfa, Azerbaijan, to the town of New Julfa on the south bank of the Zayandeh-Rud, a little upstream from Isfahan. Before long, Armenians living outside Iran as well as Christian missionaries, traders, and industrialists flooded the recent addition to Isfahan, making Julfa a showcase for Safavid achievements in economic, social, and religious spheres as well as an example of tolerance and understanding among diverse ethnic and religious groups in the region.

Early in his reign, Shah Abbas moved Iran's capital and seat of government from vulnerable Tabriz to the security of Isfahan, an already existing city well-known as a commercial center on the Silk Road. Then, encouraged by Iran's increasing economic, military, and political relations with the west (read the Papacy and Spain), he transferred the entire Armenian population of Jolfa, Azerbaijan, to the town of New Julfa on the south bank of the Zayandeh-Rud, a little upstream from Isfahan. Before long, Armenians living outside Iran as well as Christian missionaries, traders, and industrialists flooded the recent addition to Isfahan, making Julfa a showcase for Safavid achievements in economic, social, and religious spheres as well as an example of tolerance and understanding among diverse ethnic and religious groups in the region.

Read More:
http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/bashiri/Esfahan/Julfa.html
http://www.parstimes.com/history/armenians.html


www.iraninfo.dk

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Armenia
• Armenians
• Iran
• world
• history
• Esfahan
• Jolfa
• Shah
• Abbas
• Genocide
• Ottmans
• Turks
• Persian
• 1914
• Iranian

[Hairenakitz]

An essential ingredient of lasting friendship all nations is the acknowledge of their true histories.

God bless the friendship between Armenians and Iranians.

Turkey has to face its criminal history for the sake of humanity!

[myyerevan]

Oh what a beautiful memory,

How I mis walking trough these places.

How I wish times could change to our favors again, I miss walking through these beautiful churches.

They are truly beautiful monuments.

[alecjan21]

Poolhunger, its because your gay historians have brainwashed you, armenians have suffered so much in the past, mongols like you, never suffered, you only eat, steal, cheat, lie, kill, theres no need to change history around my friend.. the world already knows what happend during 1915, they just dont wanna bring it up, because of politics.. :) so fuck you

[zaaz369]

Thank you for this incredible video.

[poolhunger]

Armenians killed millions of AzerbIjanians. Armenia wants Land and money from Turkey. more Turks were killed in Turkey than Armenians. Why Armenia does NOT open their archives for the historian???

[CuachicquehRex]

@April1915 : What in the hell are talking about????

[April1915]

Iran and persian and of course Shah Abbas have been mostly much more clever than Ottoman Empire. Persian are a very old civilization based on strategy, chess play, negotiation, and business. Ottoman Empire and Turks baed their culture on wars, massacres, administration, colonialism, ... of course, ottoman Empire lost lost all its oil , and Iran is still making a lot of money with this industry ... the real players were not Iran or Turkey, but USA, U.K. Europe Russia