A Study of the migration and establishment of Armenian families in the suburbs of Isfahan during the Safavid period. A Case Study of Lenjan area.

Shah Abbas I moved a group of Armenians from their homeland to Some of areas in Suburbs of his capital in the early 17th century. The presence of Armenians in Isfahan and its suburbs was considered as immigration groups who had no right to choose a place and moved to these areas. Accordingly, some of their inhabitants and farmers were settled in some rural areas of Lenjan. The present article seeks to answer the following questions by descriptive-analytical method and using the space of field research: What were the purposes of settling Armenian families in Lenjan and which of the rural areas of Lenjan were Armenian? What important effects did the Armenians have on their economic situation during their presence in this region? The findings show that: Immigrant Armenians settled in large areas of Lenjan for political, economic, and defense purposes. The support of the Safavid kings for the Armenians and the integration of the native and skilled labor force led to the prosperity of agriculture and related activities in the region; Several settlements were established by them and work and production flourished in the region. Towards the end of the Safavid period, Armenians suffered from religious and economic pressures.