Effect of Separation of Herat on Economic Life of Khorasan (1273-1313AH/ 1857-1934AD)

Document Type : جغرافیای تاریخی خراسان بزرگ

Abstract

One of the neglected topics in contemporary research is the effect of separation of Herat by the Paris Peace Treaty (1237AH/ 1857AD) on the economic life of Khorasan during the following three decades. This descriptive-analytical research was conducted to determine the economic topics affected by this issue and the benefits of this topic in the lives of people of Khorasan. Despite the excessive resources in this field and application of a more detailed overview of the topic with an analytical-adaptive approach, the most important effect was introduced as the obstruction of the trade route from East to West and vice versa, which led to the depriving of the cities of Khorasan from the benefits of commercial transactions. In addition, decreased prosperity of caravanserais and relevant job opportunities, changes in the use of agricultural land for opium cultivation and welcoming the trade of this product, and finally, promotion of Russian goods and increased price of products are among the other topics that affected the economic life of Khorasan during the period of 1273-1313AH/ 1857-1934AD. Meanwhile, the role of policy-making by England in line with benefits, such as creating a safe place for India and obtaining commercial revenues due to the blockage of the Herat crossing and attention to the Persian Gulf, is of great importance.