Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Mahdi Vazin Afzal
• Sabah Qanbari Kalashi

Abstract

Qajar Kings displayed more interest than their predessors in Qom and its development as a religious city. During the reign of Naser Aldin shah, his prime minister Mirza Ali Asghar khan Amin Alsoltan made a new road between Tehran and Qom. The road had a number of inns, baths and Caravansaray. Later on, Lynch Brothers Company developed and completed the road. Although Qom was not commercially important in the Qajar Era, it located the Shrine of Hazrat Massumeh (God Bless Her), and also the tombs of the Safavid and Qajar Kings. The city also housed a number of the great social and religious characters that enhanced its religio – political significance. Therefore, the Qajar Kings attempted to use this city to enhance their religio – political legitimacy.
The road from Tehran to Qom was completed during the reign of Naser Aldin shah but a few obstacles and causes such the personal benefits of Mirza Ali Asghar Khan Amin Alsultan, the distance of the new road, the high expense of transportation, and the lack of facilities and finally, the lack of attention to the maintanence and repair of the road in the subsequent years all led to the deterioration of the road and did not provide material benefits for the people of Qom.

Keywords

• Road
• Qajar
• Qom
• Naser Aldin Shah
• Amin Alsultan
• Lynch