Tobacco Riots
Quick Summary
The Tobacco Riots, also known as the Tobacco Protest, were a significant event in Iranian history that occurred in 1890. This widespread protest was sparked by a concession granted by Shah Naser al-Din to a British company, giving them a monopoly over the purchase, sale, and processing of all tobacco in Iran for 50 years.1
This concession was deeply unpopular among the Iranian people, who viewed it as a foreign intrusion and an economic burden. The resulting national boycott of tobacco led to the eventual withdrawal of the concession. Many historians consider this event to be the genesis of modern Iranian nationalism. The Shah's reign was marked by attempts at reform, but also by increasing conservatism and a failure to address the growing pressures from Western nations.1
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