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Why were Armenian artisans moved to New Julfa in Isfahan under Shah Abbas I?
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Isfahan
Masjed-e Emām (“Imam Mosque”), Isfahan, Iran.
Shah Abbās I forcibly relocated thousands of Armenians from Julfa to Isfahan in 1604–1605 primarily to stimulate trade within his dominions.1
Recognizing the Armenians as an industrious and commercially astute group, the Shah sought to leverage their expertise to bolster the Safavid economy. By settling them in the quarter known as New Julfa, he integrated them into the economic life of Iran, where they served as vital intermediaries between the East and Europe. These merchants were instrumental in exporting Persian silk and importing European goods, which helped the Shah address the challenge of making his empire financially prosperous.21