The Review and Analysis of Social Class Structure of Mashhad at the Dawn of the Constitutional Revolution (Based on Consulates’ Documents)

Just before the occurrence of constitutional revolution some riots and crises began in Mashhad. The events made the city the central place for opponents of tyranny, though at the same time deep oppositions could be seen against the constitutional movement. Mashhad’s different social classes consisted of both opposing and advocating groups at the dawn of the constitutional revolution. Strong bonds with Russia or England could be seen as well, making the groups stay against each other. Considering the mentioned conditions, the study tried to see of what social classes Mashhad was composed at the beginning of the constitutional revolution, what political tendencies and affiliations they had, and how the classes affected the sociopolitical structure of Mashhad. Taking a descriptive-analytical method and using library resources and documents pertaining to the consulates, the study tried to find an appropriate answer for the mentioned questions. The results obtained from exploration of related documents on the issue showed that due to political and ethnic-tribal affiliations and aristocratic relationships, the dominant tendency of Mashhad's social classes was reactionary and against the constitution. The situation caused Mashhad’s failure to be just like Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan in being outstanding and pioneering in the constitutional revolution.