Commercialization of opium in the Iranian economy in Qajar period

Events in the nineteenth century Europe changed all aspects of life in other societies. Iranian economy was also not protected from such events and transformed from an inborn traditional economy to an imported one, as a result of facing with the newborn capitalistic economy. Iranian economy approached the neighboring economical patterns and became one of major producers of raw material for global markets. Opium as a raw material was known as a non-commercial stuff in traditional Iranian economy. Since the second half of nineteenth century, with transforming the economy, opium became a commercial stuff in the new imported and dependent economy. Economical dependence indices of Iran such as thrive of raw material production, increase of trade volume, slump of handicrafts and role of Britain as center of capitalistic economy are some of major reasons of entering the opium and its commercialization in the Iranian economy. After commercialization of opium, some domestic agents like the silkworm disease, negative trading level, active role of Qajars and some governors such as Mirza Hossein Khan Sepahsalar in regard to opium, the specific features of this raw material and unbalanced status of the Iranian economy, resulted in increasing production of opium. This raw material became the most important exported stuff shortly after its commercialization and played an important role in Iranian economy.