Customer Reviews

Armenians And The Iranian Constitutional Revolution Of 1905-1911: The Love For Freedom Has No Fatherland

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, most Armenians lived in its confines. But there was a sizable community of Armenians in Persia. This book traces a little known involvement of that community in the tumultuous events of 1905-11, when Persia underwent upheaval.

The history includes war between the Ottomans and the Persians. But much of the story centres on aspirations for Persia to have a formal constitution. This was perceived as an essential measure of modernisation and progress. So that the Persians could catch up to the Europeans and Japanese. We see how Armenian intellectuals played a role in enabling Persia to more or less peacefully adopt a constitution that placed restraints on its monarchy, at least in principle.

One marked contrast with the experience of Armenians in the Ottoman empire is how Armenians in Persia were not discriminated against. And they played a crucial role in Persian politics.

Berberian also provides extensive footnotes linking to original sources.