Fragile Frontiers: The Diminishing Domains of Qajar Iran

Abstract

Long before the French Revolution, an anonymous geographer of the 10th century had already imagined the “boundaries of the world”—( ḥudūd al-ʿālam )—as comprising distinct regions. According to this unknown figure, each territory varied from another “First, by the difference of water, air, soil, and temperature ( garma-va-sarma ). Secondly, by the difference of religion, law ( sharīʿat ) and beliefs ( kīsh ). Thirdly, by the difference of words ( lughāt ) and languages. Fourthly, by the difference of kingdoms ( padshāʾī-hā ).” These criteria, as well as natural barriers—mountains, rivers, deserts—allowed the author of this work to divide the world into tracts much like nation-states today.