
Rise & Fall of Nader Shah
Dutch East India Company Reports, 1730-1747In Stock
ISBN: 9781933823324
Paperback
272 Pages
Subjects:
Asian history
Modern history to 20th century: c 1700 to c 1900
Iran
By any measure, Nader Shah -- founder of the Afsharid Dynasty -- ranks as a towering figure in Iranian history. Rising from the humblest of origins, he became a military commander of genius, restored an embattled Persia to imperial greatness, and proceeded to wield the power of the throne with a ruthlessness that approached derangement. Yet much about the man and his tumultuous times remains obscure. This book peers into the shadows by drawing on unusual source materials -- unpublished letters and reports written by the staff of the Dutch East India Company, who watched in dismay as the tyrant sacrificed the nation's economic health (and Dutch hopes for trade) to feed his war machine. The book looks at his entire life: how a shepherd boy mastered fighting skills, assembled armies, reunited Iran and freed it from Afghan occupation, invaded and plundered both India and Ottoman Turkey, and crowned himself Nader Shah of Iran after usurping the Safavid throne in 1736. Because there are no other contemporary reports, published or unpublished, of this length and geographical scope, much of the information offered here is unique. Nader Shah, who not only ruined neighbouring countries but also his own, is depicted in all his fury and bloodthirstiness -- traits often glossed over by later court chroniclers. At times the Dutch observers are so sickened by his total disregard for the well-being of his country and for human life that they pray to God to release Iran from his hold. Release came in 1747, when he was taken by surprise in his bed and assassinated -- but not before first killing two of the attackers. For the first time in English, "The Rise and Fall of Nader Shah" makes these primary-source eyewitness reports of an important period in Iranian history available to historians and students alike.
Dr Willem Floor studied development economics, non-western sociology, as well as Persian, Arabic, and Islamology from 1963-1967 at the University of Utrecht (the Netherlands). He received his doctoral degree from the University of Leiden in 1971. Since 1983, Dr Floor has been employed by the World Bank as an energy specialist. Throughout this time, he has published extensively on the socio-economic history of Iran.
We understand the importance of accessibility for all of our customers, including those with disabilities. While our website may not currently meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, we are actively working towards compliance and constantly seeking ways to improve the user experience for all of our customers.
To that end, we have implemented a variety of accessibility tools provided by third-party app, AppifyCommerce. These tools include features such as keyboard navigation, high contrast mode, font resizing, and alternative text for images read focus, various cursor sizes. We have also incorporated tools to help with visual impairments, such as screen readers and text-to-speech functionality.
In addition to these technical solutions, we have also made a commitment to providing clear and easy-to-understand information on our website. This includes using simple and straightforward language, providing alternative text for images and videos, and including clear and detailed product descriptions.
We understand that accessibility is an ongoing effort and that there may be areas of our website that are not fully accessible. If you have any difficulty accessing our website or have any suggestions for improvements, please contact us at [email or phone number]. We will make every effort to respond to your request as soon as possible and work towards resolving any issues you may have encountered.
We also strive to provide equal access to our products and services, including our online store and customer service channels. So, we are always open to feedback, suggestions, and ideas on how we can continue to improve accessibility on our website and in all aspects of our business.
Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all of our customers, regardless of ability, have a positive and seamless experience when visiting our website and purchasing from our store. Thank you for visiting our store and for your patience as we continue to work towards full compliance with the WCAG guidelines.