Trading in the Safavid era was carried out in the form of exchanging goods with goods and exchanging goods with cash (coins of Safavid or foreign silver). Major merchants had their own agents travelling to different areas. Some merchants were doing business in distant countries such as

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. Merchants were highly valued for the government supporting them. Iran's domestic trade was in the hands of Iranian Muslim merchants. One of the main export products was silk. Armenian, English and Dutch merchants competed in exporting raw Iranian silk. Other than silk and textiles, leather, camel and sheep wool, Chinese model dishes, gold and silver artifacts, rugs and precious stones were also exported. In return, they brought from the other side textiles, cups, mirrors and window glass, fancy metal items, luggage and writing paper. نوروزی، ''تمدن ایران در دورهٔ صفویه''، ۳۴. رده:مقاله‌هایی که تجمیع ارجاع در آن‌ها ممنوع است The goods for export to

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

included: raw silk,

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

textiles Textile is an Hyponymy and hypernymy, umbrella term that includes various Fiber, fiber-based materials, including fibers, yarns, Staple (textiles)#Filament fiber, filaments, Thread (yarn), threads, and different types of #Fabric, fabric. ...

, polyenes, swords, arcs, arrows, pearls, saddles and a variety of paints and dried fruits. Russian merchants were operating in northern cities, as well as

Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...

and

Qazvin Qazvin (; ; ) is a city in the Central District (Qazvin County), Central District of Qazvin County, Qazvin province, Qazvin province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the largest city in the provi ...

. From Russia to Iran, they brought all kinds of

fur A fur is a soft, thick growth of hair that covers the skin of almost all mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an ...

, raw leather, mahogany,

linen Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant. Linen is very strong and absorbent, and it dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. Lin ...

, printed cotton, copper, iron,

Metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

and glassware,

paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, Textile, rags, poaceae, grasses, Feces#Other uses, herbivore dung, or other vegetable sources in water. Once the water is dra ...

, Fur clothing,

honey Honey is a sweet and viscous substance made by several species of bees, the best-known of which are honey bees. Honey is made and stored to nourish bee colonies. Bees produce honey by gathering and then refining the sugary secretions of pl ...

, wax, sugar,

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

caviar Caviar or caviare is a food consisting of salt-cured roe of the family Acipenseridae. Caviar is considered a delicacy and is eaten as a garnish or spread. Traditionally, the term caviar refers only to roe from wild sturgeon in the Caspi ...

and

firearms A firearm is any type of gun that uses an explosive charge and is designed to be readily carried and operated by an individual. The term is legally defined further in different countries (see legal definitions). The first firearms originated ...

. Exports of Iran to

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

included

tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...

, rough and silk textiles,

caning Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits (known as "strokes" or "cuts") with a single Stick-fighting, cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks (see spanking) or han ...

Types of utensils, rugs, steel, iron, diamonds, straw and articles made of wood.

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

imported from Iran horses,

, all kinds of

dried fruit Dried fruit is fruit from which the majority of the original water content has been removed prior to cooking or being eaten on its own. Drying may occur either naturally, by sun, through the use of industrial dehydrators, or by freeze drying. ...

, jam, Pickles, Flower and Fruit Extract, Types of Crocheting and chinaware. In return goods imported from India included, silk textiles, cotton fabrics, metal goods. Indian merchants worked in most Iranian cities. Many of them were money changers and usurers.

Actions by Shah Abbas the first

Shah Abbas the Great was successful in business development. One of the important tasks of the king was to establish business relations with foreign countries. Some other goals Shah Abbas managed to achieve was the development of the ports of Hormuz and Juran (Bandar Abbas) and establishing security in these important commercial areas. These measures led to the expansion of trade relations with foreign countries to the point where sometimes more than 300 ships in the port of Hormuz docked. Bandar Abbas and

were also major centers of activity for businessmen from

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

, the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

and the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

. During the Safavid period,

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

an traders enjoyed many privileges and facilities, such as immunity from customs and customs duties. Foreign merchants were allowed to export any goods except for horses. One of the factors of business development was road security. Merchants should pay tolls and customs duties (up to 10 percent of the price of the goods). In addition, 4% was paid to " Shahbandar" in order to release the goods sooner. Of course, despite the customs of numerous houses and castles for smuggling goods, they smuggled goods.Customs Duties
/ref>

References

{{Reflist Safavid Iran Economy of Iran

Safavid The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...