Authors
1 PhD student, Department of History, Shiraz University
2 Assistant Professor of History, Shiraz University
Abstract
The conditions the Persian gulf changed dramatically with the geographical discoveries of the late 15th century A.D (9th A.H) and those old and long term structures which guaranteed the flourish of trade and free navigation in the Persian gulf which were politically and economically dominated by Iran faded away. The British East India Company was established to regulate the commercial trades of British colonies in the east, the commercial permission of which was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1600 A.D/1010 A.H . The company's agencies got started in Bombay and Calcutta 15 years after its primary establishment . The company, two decades after its establishment took control of the Persian gulf and as result commercially fell under its influence. The Portuguese defeat and expulsion from Hormuz helped a lot in fixing the position of the British East India Company. During the Afghan sovereignty and the age of Nader Shah, despite all the problems and confusion, the British Company continued its activities in southern boundaries of Iran .At the same time when Britain's political activities began in the Persian gulf, the attempts of this colonist government to gain the rule of the Persian gulf and Oman sea and also the violation of Iran's sovereignty and national interests by this government was noticeable more than ever. This issue became more and more evident in the age of Zand dynasty (1175-1203 A.H) and particularly in the early age of Qajar dynasty (1235 A.H). The findings of this research suggest that the most important strategic policy of the British East Indian Company has been to isolate and disable Iran and to limit its role in the Persian gulf.
Keywords
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