📖 Overview
This historical study examines the Khanate of Erevan during its final period under Persian rule, from the rise of the Qajar dynasty until the territory's annexation by Russia. The book draws on Persian, Armenian, and Russian primary sources to reconstruct the political and socioeconomic conditions of this strategic region.
The research focuses on the administrative structure of the Khanate, its relationship with the Qajar state, and the complex dynamics between the Muslim ruling class and Armenian population. Documentation includes official correspondence, tax registers, and diplomatic records that reveal the internal workings of the Khanate's governance.
The text provides detailed analysis of agricultural production, trade networks, and demographic patterns within the Khanate of Erevan. Maps and statistical data supplement the narrative portions of the study.
Through its examination of this crucial transitional period, the book contributes to broader understanding of how peripheral regions functioned within the Persian Empire and illuminates the shifting power dynamics in the South Caucasus region during the early nineteenth century.
👀 Reviews
Limited reader reviews exist online for this academic text. The few reviews note the book's detailed examination of primary sources from Persian, Armenian, and Russian archives and documents.
Readers appreciated:
- Comprehensive demographic data and administrative details
- Translation and analysis of previously unpublished Persian and Armenian manuscripts
- Clear organization of economic and political information
Criticisms mentioned:
- Dense academic writing style
- Limited appeal beyond scholars of Armenian/Persian history
- High price point for a specialized monograph
No ratings found on Goodreads, Amazon lacks customer reviews. The book is primarily cited in academic papers and subsequent historical works rather than reviewed by general readers.
One scholar review in the Iranian Studies Journal (vol. 27) noted: "Bournoutian provides the first systematic study of this important transitional period in Armenian history using multilingual primary sources."
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🤔 Interesting facts
🔹 The Khanate of Erevan (modern-day Yerevan, Armenia's capital) was the last Muslim-ruled state in the South Caucasus before becoming part of the Russian Empire in 1828.
🔹 Author George Bournoutian translated and analyzed over 600 original Persian, Armenian, and Russian documents to write this detailed historical account.
🔹 The work reveals how the Khan of Erevan maintained relative autonomy while skillfully balancing between the competing Ottoman, Persian, and Russian empires.
🔹 During the period covered by the book, the Khanate's population was approximately 20% Armenian Christian and 80% Muslim, significantly different from modern Armenia's demographics.
🔹 The book contains rare tax registers and census data that provide unique insights into the economic and social life of early 19th century South Caucasus.