The Social-Cultural Role of the Traders of Sultanabad (1906 -1941)

Sultanabad was constructed in 1849 by a military commander, Yusuf Khan Gorji, at the time of Fath Ali Shah Qajar. The city was organized based on a military model with the aim of establishing security in Farahan region and routes between the east and west parts of the country. Over time, Sultanabad became an important city in various economic and commercial dimensions. Agricultural products and the carpet industry elevated its status. Therefore, the merchants of Sultanabad achieved a prominent position and played an effective role in the development of the city. This article aims to investigate the impact of Sultanabad’s merchants on the social and cultural developments of the city from the Persian Constitution till the end of the First Pahlavi period.

Method and Research Design: 

Archival records and library resources were studied and analyzed using historical method in a descriptive and analytical way.

The results show that in addition to the immediate role of the merchants in the economic dynamism of the region, they played an effective role in various cultural areas and the established educational centers and religious places. They also interacted with some influential people, including clergies, and solved some of the social and economic problems of the residents.