بدرالسادات علیزاده مقدم

The Murshidiya was founded in the 4th century of Hijri in Kazeroon by Sheikh Abu Ishaq (d. 426 AH). This doctrine paid special attention to trade, according to the teachings, the ruling attitude of monastic centers and its strategic and geographical location of bio-ecosystem. The present article aims to examine the nature and strategy of Murshidiya’s commercial activities in the Timurid period and the contexts and consequences of the commercial life of the followers of this doctrine, taking into account their relations with the ruling political system. It tries to answer the question that what was the influence of the monastic and service network of devotees, the strategic position and business prosperity in the living areas of Murshidiya, in addition to strengthening the business beliefs among the followers of this doctrine in the pursuit of business and the prosperity of business activities. It was carried out with a descriptive-analytical approach. The result shows that due to the commercial position of Kazeroon, the intersection of commercial routes and the access to the Persian Gulf, Sheikh Abu Ishaq’s holiness, commercial teachings in Murshidiya’s teachings, providing intermediate services to merchants and travelers and needys, as well as the government's attention to doctrines in this era, have been the important factors in the prosperity of business among the followers of this doctrine and, accordingly, the Timurid era.

This research aims to examine the main principles of Iran's foreign policy during the reign of Shah Abbas I Safavid based on the view of Hafez Farman Farmaian in the book Historical Analysis of Iran's Foreign Policy from the beginning to today and to answer the question that what principles did Shah Abbas I Safavid follow in governing Iran's foreign policy? The method of data collection in this research is library and documentary, and the method of data analysis is descriptive-analytical. The findings show that the main principles of Iran's foreign policy during the reign of Shah Abbas I Safavid were the same principles that F Farman Farmaian mentioned as the traditional principles of foreign policy. According to the findings, the principles governing Iran's foreign policy in the era of Shah Abbas were expanding and guarding the borders of the government territory, developing and protecting trade routes, supporting neutral countries on Iran's borders, and the approach of cultural tolerance and religious tolerance in the realm of governing.

Undoubtedly, the Safavid one is one of the most brilliant periods of the historical life of the city of Isfahan. During this period, after choosing this city as the Safavid capital, many constructional and cultural measures were carried out in it. So that during this period, Isfahan became famous as half of the world. One of the actions of this period was the construction of several schools in this city, some of which were founded by women. Having used library method and a descriptive and analytical method, this research is going to answer this main question: How was the role of women in Safavid period in the establishment of schools of this period? Brief research confirms that women in the Safavid period, especially the women of the court and the elite and educated classes, along with the Safavid court and with the aim of promoting Shiite culture, played a significant role in the formation, creation and continuation of the work of schools and educational institutions of this period. The establishment of these schools, in addition to fulfilling the religious goals of the Safavids, provided an opportunity for educating and training of many scholars, writers and scientists during this period and next periods.

With the increasing communication between Indian Persians and Iranian Zoroastrians during the Naseri period, Indian Persians sent representatives and established associations among Iranian Zoroastrians, especially Yazd Zoroastrians, with the aim of improving their fellow believers’ status and religious and social affairs  in Iran. The formation of these associations in Yazd, along with the efforts of some Zoroastrian reformers, especially the Persians, caused significant changes in the conditions of the Zoroastrians in this area. This research, with a descriptive and analytical approach and based on library and documentary sources, seeks to answer the main question that what role did Zoroastrian associations in Yazd play in Zoroastrians’ cultural and social life during the Qajar period? The findings indicate that Indian Persians played a significant role in improving the condition of Yazd Zoroastrians during the Qajar era through the establishment of associations such as Akaber association and Naseri association. These associations with the help of the representatives sent by Indian Persians, played a significant role in Yazd Zoroastrians’ social and cultural life in t affaires such as canceling the jizya, establishing new schools, and removing injustices from the Zoroastrian minority.

During the Safavid era, some prominent Iranian families migrated to India for various reasons. The emigration of these dynasties to the Mughal Empire (Gurkanis) real along with their numerous political and social experiences were naturally the source of considerable influence in various fields in India. Among these families was the Zik Family. This family, which had a brilliant record of military and political service during the reign of King Abbas I, was angered by Safavid court and was forced to leave Iran and seek refuge in the Mughal court. Employing a library technique and descriptive-analytical research method, the present study makes attempts to answer this question: what role did the Zik family play in the Indian Mughal era? The findings of this study confirm that the Zik family, using its military and political experience, played an effective role in confronting with Uzbeks and some of conquest of Mughal Empire. The effort of the f in civil and urban areas of some Mughal territories such as Kashmir and Kabul and their uninterrupted support for the spread of Persian language and Shiite religion in India was one of the important effects of this family''s presence on the Mughal court of India.

Biographies have a special place as a source of research in social history. Although the main focus of biographies is on the life and memoires of poets and orators, the peripheral information stated amidst the biographies can play an effective role in supplementing and sometimes correcting the information obtained from historical sources. Among the biographies of the Safavid period, Taḏkera-ye Naṣrābādi is of special importance both in terms of the abundance of biographies and the sheer volume of peripheral information, especially the author's painstaking effort to document the life of different segments of society. This article, which uses a library method and a descriptive-analytical approach, seeks to answer the question, “What role does Taḏkera-ye Naṣrābādi play in explaining the social situation in the Safavid period?” The findings suggest that although the social information in this work are presented indirectly amidst the biographies of poets and orators of this era, the author’s special attention to different classes of society, especially the general public, and their hobbies, beliefs and customs and social interactions, not only demonstrates the challenges facing different social strata of his era, but also males the book an invaluable resource of information that can shed light on various aspects of Safavid social life, especially its late period.