Study On The Silk Road And The Trade Network Of New Julfa’s Armenians In Safavid Dynasty

As a flourishing trade and cultural road,the ancient Silk Road was a link between ancient China and the civilizations of East Asia,Southeast Asia,South Asia,West Asia,Africa and Europe.In the long history of the Silk Road,there emerged many silk Road cities,merchant teams and commercial organizations,who were participants and witnesses of the prosperity and decline of the Silk Road.The Armenians of New Julfa are among them.Located southwest of the main city of Isfahan on the southern bank of the Zayand River,New Julfa was formerly the Armenian community of Isfahan.In 1605,Abbas I,the Safavid ruler,ordered the formation of the New Julfa.After that,the Armenians of New Julfa established a trade network centered on New Julfa that extended to the Indian Ocean,Russia,the Mediterranean,and western and Northern Europe.The network not only connected The Eurasian continent,but also integrated maritime trade with overland trade,injecting vitality into the Silk Road.This paper consists of four parts except introduction and conclusion.The introduction mainly introduces the purpose and significance of the topic,research status at home and abroad,thesis framework,research methods and innovation.Chapter one discusses the background of the rise of the Armenians of New Julfa and their trade network.First of all,the opening of new shipping routes has brought both opportunities and challenges to the Armenians.The opening of new shipping routes and the strong demand for raw silk materials in the Western European market made It urgent for Europeans to look for "middlemen" to communicate with the traditional Silk Road.Second,the establishment of New Julfa has provided Armenians with relative security,a stable political environment and the opportunity to exercise their business talents.Chapter two discusses the prosperity of the trade network of Armenians,which come from New Julfa and under the Safavid dynasty.Outline four trade routes and trade areas of New Julfan Armenians,namely: New Julfa--Mediterranean--Western Europe,New Julfa--Russia--Northern Europe,New Julfa--Northern India--Tibet,Persian Gulf--Southern India--Southeast Asia;Its trade scope is north to Northern Europe,south to South Asia and Africa,west to Western Europe,east to East Asia and Southeast Asia.To Iran raw silk and India cotton cloth two commodities mainly show the grand situation of trade.Chapter three analyzes the reasons for the prosperity of the Armenian trade of New Julfa.The support of Safavid ruler,the freedom of administration and trade protection of the new Jurist were the premise of the prosperity of trade;The spirit of thrift,frugality and enterprising spirit of the Armenians of New Julfa is the foundation of prosperous trade.Effective management methods and scientific "Commenda" are the accelerator of trade prosperity.The "Commenda" not only provides a way for the efficient circulation of capital on a large scale at the same time,but also the mode of sharing benefits and risks attracts many Armenians of New Julfa to engage in business overseas,which is conducive to the expansion of trade scale.At the same time,professional training mode for the trade of high-quality,professional agents.Chapter four discusses the impact of the prosperity of Armenian trade of New Julfa.The prosperity of trade contributed to the prosperity of the city of Isfahan,which produced specialized commercial bazaars,divided the area of non-Muslim merchants,and became a thriving international trading city in the 17 th century.The prosperity of trade promoted the prosperity of Safavid culture,enriched the connotation of Iranian painting,carpet and porcelain art in Safavid period,and promoted the exchange and integration of eastern and western ideology and culture.The prosperity of commerce contributed to the awakening of Armenian national consciousness,strengthened ties among Armenians,and stimulated Armenian national identity.The conclusion summarizes the whole paper and analyzes the shortcomings of the trade network Armenians of New Julfa.After 1736,with the collapse of Safavid dynasty and the attack of The East India Company and other European companies,the Armenian trade network in Julfa declined and collapsed.