Trade in Iran's Safavid era

Trading in the Safavid era was carried out in the form of exchanging goods with goods and exchanging goods with cash (coins of Safavid or foreign silver).[1]

Major merchants had their own agents travelling to different areas. Some merchants were doing business in distant countries such as Sweden or China.<n’s International Trade in the Safavid Era]</ref> Merchants were highly valued for the government supporting them. Iran’s domestic trade was in the hands of Iranian Muslim merchants.[2]

One of the main export products was silk. Armenian, English and Dutch merchants competed in exporting raw Iranian silk. [3] Other than silk and textiles, leather, camel and sheep wool, Chinese model dishes, gold and silver artifacts, rugs and precious stones were also exported. In return, they brought from the other side textiles, cups, mirrors and window glass, fancy metal items, luggage and writing paper. [4]

The goods for export to Russia included: raw silk, silk textiles, polyenes, swords, arcs, arrows, pearls, saddles and a variety of paints and dried fruits. Russian merchants were operating in northern cities, as well as Isfahan and Qazvin. From Russia to Iran, they brought all kinds of fur, raw leather, mahogany, linen, printed cotton, copper, iron, Metal and glassware, paper, Fur clothing, honey, wax Sugar, fish, caviar and firearms. Exports of Iran to Turkey included tobacco, rough and silk textiles, caning Types of utensils, rugs, steel, iron, diamonds, straw and articles made of wood.[5]

India imported from Iran horses, tobacco, all kinds of dried fruit, jam, Pickles, Flower and Fruit Extract, Types of Crocheting and chinaware. In return goods imported from India included, silk textiles, cotton fabrics, metal goods. Indian merchants worked in most Iranian cities. Many of them were money changers and usurers. [6]