Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Fatemeh Yousefvand ¹
• Sahmeddin Khazaee ²
• mohsen rahmati ³

¹ PhD of History, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

² Assistant Professor of Ancient History , Lorestan University, Khoramabad, Iran

³ Professor of History, Lorestan University,Khoramabad, Iran

Abstract

Timur invasion resulted in land degradation, destruction of irrigation networks, increase in barren lands, and a relative stagnation in the agricultural situation. But after the establishment of the government, the Timurid made reforms to compensate for the destruction and to take measures for the welfare of the farmers. In the present study, an attempt has been made to use the descriptive-analytical method and relying on the data available in the sources, to consider the extent to which the situation of farmers has been affected by the political developments of the Timurid rulers? The findings show that the Timurid sultans took steps in support of the peasants, who have always been the most important suppliers of food and government revenue, but these measures were either insufficient or conditions for the rulers was going on that caused them to ignore all the rules and orders issued in order to stay in power for a few more mornings. In fact, the administration of justice for farmers was only relevant when the situation was calm and the rulers were in power, but as soon as the situation in the country became critical, the Timurid rulers forgot all the issued laws and orders and collected taxes Unorthodox practices and hardships made life difficult for farmers. One of the consequences of these heavy and incalculable taxes was the revolt, flight and migration of farmers, and the decline of agriculture in this period is evidence of the poor situation of farmers.

Keywords

• Timurids
• Farmers
• Dual politics
• Justice
• Oppression

Main Subjects

• Social history

Extended Abstract

Timurid dual policy in relation with farmers

In the land of Iran, where the economy and livelihood have always relied on agriculture, the rulers have tried to side with this economic pole of society and have always issued orders to respect the well-being of farmers and ensure their welfare. Before the Timurids, the Mongol Ilkhans ruled in Iran. The structure of their government was tribal. These tribes were hostile to the monogamous people, especially the peasants, who entered their houses and looted them. The nomads usurped the farmers' lands to feed their livestock and turned them into pastures. On the way to summer and winter, they left their livestock on the farmers' fields and trampled them. Gradually, the Ilkhans realized that without the existence of farmers, it would not be possible to provide for other groups of society. Therefore, they decided to reduce the pressure on farmers and take measures to improve their well-being. But these reforms did not last and the farmers were not in a very favorable situation during this period.

 In the Timurid period, in addition to the nomads, the ruling power relied on the monogamous Iranians, especially the scribes and clerics, and granted privileges to the peasants. But their concessions sometimes remained mere slogans and did not materialize, as nomadic customs and nomadic battles continued to prevail during this period, which in turn caused various tax pressures on farmers. Therefore, whenever their sovereignty was in danger, they would inevitably give up everything they had chanted and their sovereignty at all costs would be their first priority.

In the present study, an attempt has been made to use the descriptive-analytical method and based on the available data, to consider the issue of how much the situation of farmers has been affected by the political developments of the Timurid rulers? The hypothesis is that the Timurid rulers in the normal and critical conditions of the country with double treatment of farmers ultimately failed to provide good conditions for farmers and their well-being and the situation of farmers has always been influenced by the political situation in the Timurid court.

Several researches have been done on the economic situation of the Timurid era. Fragner examines the internal social and economic situation of the Timurids. Amir Teymour Rafiei has dealt with "a look at the economic situation of Greater Khorasan during the Timurid era". Mohsen Rahmati and Fatemeh Yousefvand have studied "Sultan Hussein Bayqara and the Economic Life of Khorasan". Mohsen Rahmati has also dealt with "the economic situation of Khorasan during the reign of Sultan Abu Saeid Gourkan" and "economic reforms of Sultan Abu Saeid Gourkan in Khorasan and its consequences". Shahram Farahnaki and others have also "studied the agricultural situation of Khorasan and Transoxiana during the Timurid period."

The present studies have either examined the economic situation of Iran in the Timurid period in general or only the economic situation of Khorasan province in the Timurid period and have devoted a section to the study of the agricultural situation. The only article by Farahnaki et al. That specifically examines the agricultural situation during the Timurid period, and this article also covers only two states of the Timurid realm. So, no independent study has been conducted on the diversity of Timurid rulers' policies in dealing with farmers. Therefore, the present study aimed to show the economic and social position of farmers in the relationship between them and the Timurid system by examining the type of treatment of Timurid rulers with farmers in different situations.

In the first part of the article, the situation of farmers before coming to power of the Timurids is discussed, and in the second part, the actions taken by the Timurid rulers in support of the farmers are discussed. In the third part, the critical political situation of the Timurid rulers and the actions they took against the farmers are examined, and finally the result of the article is that the Timurids tried to improve the situation of the farmers and take measures to support them. But these actions and support were limited to peace in Timurid territory. In times of crisis, they have disregarded all existing orders and laws in order to gain power in succession competitions and disputes within the family, to fill empty coffers, to keep subordinates and agents satisfied, and to take revenge on rivals and insurgents in various regions. Farmers' rights were violated. Thus, at the end of the Timurid period, farmers were no better off than in the period of chaos before the Timurids came to power.