Iran and Islam Paper #1

4/16/13

Essay #1 Topic #1

The religion and State of Iran was merging of political and sacred legitimacy and the establishment of formal institutions in the 19th century was also merging. The Qajar Dynasty still was ruling; yet, still having higher authority, the dynasty distributed some power toward groups like tribes, peasants, and merchants. The Qajar Dynast focused more on State problems, which is why tribes, peasants, and merchants had their own little authority. “ They were permitted to have their own leaders and organizations, their own schools and tax levies, and their own laws and places of worship. “ (Pg. 19) The State allowed them to have what they wanted as long as the Qajar Dynasty ruled over all.

For instance, the tribes had authority to take control in small communities or tribes. The Qajar would allowed them to have authority to even kill someone as a punishment for any illegal activity. “ In theory, only the shah and his immediate representatives-the princely governors possessing the royal dagger-had the authority to take life. In practice, most judicial decisions, even those of life and death, were left to a local authorities.” (Pg. 13) The State for this reason was related to tribes for giving the tribes the authority to conduct their own activities. Next, were the peasants, who were also given some type of authority but in the agriculture area. For example, the peasants were allowed to grow anything in private lands owned by landlords. “The peasants, who constituted ore than half the population, were mostly sharecroppers. In much of the country, the annual crop was normally divided into five equal portions- for labor, land, oxen, seed, and irrigated water.” (Pg. 23) Village residents liked this type of deal because they received three-fifths of the harvest and enjoyed a sense of security. Last, are the merchants, who are also related to the State. The merchants were business people, who were allowed to trade goods made by others. Some of...