Tsarist Russia's Colonial Expansion and Geopolitics of the Caspian Sea: Caspian Sea's Global Situation and its changes within the Modern World System (1550-1800)

This study addressed a historical change in the global situation of the Caspian Sea during recent centuries. Its central question is that, how an Iranian sea changed to be a Russian one and how we can explain this strategic change within the Modern World System theory of Emanuel Wallerstein. To answer this question, it attempts to trace a gradual but continues change in the situation of the Caspian Sea during 1550 to 1800. Regarding the methodological considerations, it is a historical study with arguments based on an analytical survey of historical evidence within a conceptual framework that is inspired and manipulated by the world-system grand theory. As the results show, from mid-16th century on, and especially after the Russian conquest of Astrakhan, Caspian sea and its geopolitical situation apparently affected by the Russian strategy toward Asia. This changing situation had consequential results for Iran and her commercial relations with Russia; in fact, Iran's contribution to the strategic transactions of the Caspian Sea was affected by her peripheral role and Russia's dominance over it paved way for further expansion in the Asian lands.