Mechanisms of Managing the Internal Silk Trade during the Reign of Shah Abbas I and Their Impact on Enhancing the Power of the Safavid State

Abstract

This study examines the mechanisms of managing the domestic silk trade in the Safavid state during the reign of Shah Abbas I (1587–1629), considering it one of the most significant economic pillars that contributed to strengthening the state's financial structure and reinforcing its central authority. The study aims to analyze the policies adopted by Shah Abbas I to transform the silk trade from a traditional economic activity into a strategic resource serving the political and economic orientations of the state amid both internal and external challenges, particularly the Safavid–Ottoman conflict and the resulting pressures on traditional trade routes.

The study adopts the historical-analytical method, relying on a broad range of multilingual primary and secondary sources to uncover the nature of the transformations that characterized the silk sector during the Safavid period. The research is structured into three main sections. The first examines the historical and economic contexts of silk production in Iran prior to the Safavid era, highlighting the geographical significance of major producing regions, particularly Gilan and Mazandaran. The second section focuses on the condition of the silk trade in the early Safavid period and the challenges it encountered, especially the impact of the Ottoman blockade on the restructuring of trade networks. The third section investigates the administrative and organizational policies implemented by Shah Abbas I through consolidating control over production regions, regulating marketing and distribution processes, and restructuring the financial system associated with the trade.

The study concludes that Shah Abbas I’s management of the silk trade was not limited to maximizing financial revenues; rather, it constituted a central economic policy that contributed to strengthening the authority of the Safavid state and enhancing its capacity to confront political and military challenges. This research represents the first part of a broader study, to be completed in a subsequent part addressing other dimensions of the Safavid silk trade in order to achieve a more comprehensive analytical perspective.