TY - JOUR T1 - Gift and its role in the relations between Iran and East India Company during Safavid Era TT - پیشکش و نقش آن در روابط ایران با کمپانی‌های هند شرقی در دوران صفوی JF - cultural-history JO - cultural-history VL - 2 IS - 7 UR - http://chistorys.ir/article-1-330-en.html Y1 - 2011 SP - 25 EP - 58 KW - Keywords: Iran KW - East India Companies KW - Gift KW - trade KW - Safavid Era. N2 - Safavid Era is one the most important period of Iran Medieval History from the perspective of development in International Cooperation. In this period, both Safavid Reign and Western Authorities showed high willingness to make connection and bilateral cooperation. These relations were not limited to political issues. On that period to make commercial relations, especially by the recent western companies in east, was very important. Those companies were eager to trade with Iran. Thus, they were obliged to make connection with some Court Officials such as Sadr e A'zam, Mostofi e Khasseh and Shahbandar e Bandar e Abbas. Because those Officials were playing an important role in commercial activities, especially in signing of contracts and endowment of privileges, therefore it was very important to draw their attention. In addition, to get the support of governors of the cities which located in the path of those trades was very useful. As a result, the companies used every means such as gifts and bribes to get support from those Officials to reach their goals, even to throw their rivals from the field. The question of this paper is about the influence of gifts on the relation of East India Companies and Safavid Reign. Based upon evidence, it seems gifts paved the way of dominance over the government bodies and thus development of these companies' trades in Iran and enhance the level of competition of these companies in Iran. Each of those companies tried to donate more convenient gifts and to accompany more figures to achieve its goals. M3 ER -