A Journey To Persia: Jean Chardin's Portrait of a Seventeenth-Century Empire - Hardcover

Ferrier, R. W.

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9781850435648: A Journey To Persia: Jean Chardin's Portrait of a Seventeenth-Century Empire

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1850435642 ISBN 13: 9781850435648

Publisher: I.B.Tauris, 1996

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""Isfahan is half the world"" was the proud boast of the 17th-century capital of Persia, established as the new political centre of the country by Shah Abbas I shortly after his accession to the throne in 1588.

One of the many travellers attracted to Persia by these claims was Jean Chardin, a young French jeweller who spent a total of 10 years in Isfahan. During this time, he became intimately familiar with the city, its markets, shops, and workplaces; he was invited into people's houses and entertained; he visited gardens and participated in hunts; his knowledge of Court affairs was extensive; and he travelled hundreds of miles, all over the country, visiting other towns and villages.

His journals are a source of information for all interested in Middle Eastern history. They also provide a portrait of life both at court and among humble artisans in 17th century Persia. First published as ""Chardin's Voyages"", this edited collection includes a comprehensive introduction with a biography of Chardin and a description of Iran in the mid-17th-century, placing the writing in its historical context.

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From the Back Cover:

'Isfahan is half the world' was the proud boast of the seventeenth-century capital of Persia. One of the travellers attracted to Persia was Jean Chardin, a young French jeweller who spent most of his time in Isfahan. During this time, he became intimate with the city; he was invited into people's houses and entertained; he visited gardens and participated in hunts; his knowledge of court affairs was extensive, and he travelled many miles, visiting other towns and villages. Chardin's accounts and sketches are invaluable sources of information for all those interested in Middle East history, and they provide a vivid portrait of life in seventeenth-century Persia. In this beautiful book, illustrated with Chardin's drawings, Ronald Ferrier has distilled the writings and observations to produce a wonderful and evocative insight into Safavid Iran.

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

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