13.1.11

Relations & Business with Iran

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The British Exploitation of Iran

Iran was not officially part of the British Empire. However, Britain and its private companies had a huge influence on Iranian (Persian) society.

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Baron de Reuter

  • In 1872, Baron de Reuter privately bought the rights to Iran's banks, currency, transportation infrastructure, and communication industries (including the telegraph system).
  • This was an unprecedented deal completed by a British businessman, rather than the British government.
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The Iranian sale of their industries

  • The Shah was the monarch who ruled Iran.
  • In 1891, the Shah sold Iran's tobacco industry to British businessmen for £15,000. The British company, Imperial Tobacco now owned all shops selling tobacco in Iran.
  • In 1901, the Shah sold the rights to all Iranian oil to a British business, the Anglo Iranian Oil Company. This lease would last for 60 years.
    • There was uproar and an Iranian Parliament called the Majlis was created as a result.

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1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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