How the commercial and urban fabric of the port of Bushehr changed during the Qajar period

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant professor, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran.

Abstract

The port of Bushehr was one of the important centers of international trade in the 13th century AH/19th century AD, which formed the basis for political and commercial relations between Qajar-era Iran and the major European companies in the Persian Gulf region. The presence of European governments in the Persian Gulf resulted in increased commercial activities and the establishment of trading houses and consulates in Bushehr. The concentration of their commercial activities in this port and the presence of other local and non-local merchants in this city led to the creation of demographic diversity in Bushehr, which played an important role in changing the commercial fabric of the city and, consequently, the physical space of Bushehr. This research aims to explain, using a historical approach along with descriptive and analytical methods, how the merchant class was formed and how the commercial fabric of Bushehr port developed. This growth led to changes in the social and cultural landscape of the city's physical structure and architecture. The research findings indicate that the growth of Bushehr's commercial fabric and the significant presence of foreigners in the city fostered peaceful coexistence between the residents of Bushehr and non-native merchants. This interaction not only contributed to the city's economic growth but also facilitated extensive social and cultural influences across various fields. Notably, European art and architectural styles transformed the physical landscape of the port, making it a platform for the introduction of these concepts in Iran.

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Historical Findings
Volume 2, Issue 1 - Serial Number 5
Spring
June 2025
Pages 44-57

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