Iranian trade and international trade links of Iran Armenian merchants (1600-1650)

Since XVIIth century, many Iranian merchandise, especially raw silk, were among the products preferred by European and Asian countries. In XVIIth century, Netherland, Great Britain, France, Venice and other European countries were competing on international raw silk trade in Persia, India and East Mediterranean Sea. The rise in demand for silk was related to the increase in textile production in Europe. I. Abbas (1587-1629), who was aware of the situation, promoted silk production and silkworm raising in Iran as the pioneer of his innovations.Shah, who took the control of the silk territories in person and gave Armanian merchants special statutes, moved them from Aras and Nakhcivan region to more secure Isfahan and settled them in New Julfa, which had great advantage in trade. In order to regulate silk exports, Shah facilitated commercial activities and macadamized and secured the silk trade routes. He also chose experienced and talented Armenian merchants as the Safavid foreign commercial agents. Apart from Armenians, the European companies in the international silk trade also had great power. The New Julfa Armenian merchants were carrying Iranian silk mostly via the land routes with caravans and the East India companies did it via sea, and they were in competition with each other. In this process, the Armenian traders, dispite many commercial difficulties, did not left the silk trade to the East India companies.The Netherland and British companies had been unable to replace the land trade routes to the sea, thanks to the intervention of the Armenian traders of New Julfa. For this reason, the Armenian traders were able to keep their dominance over silk trade and they continued it for more a century. Keywords: Armanian Merchants, New Julfa Armenians, Iran Silk, Indian EastCompanies, I. Shah Abbas.