Document Type : Scientific - research article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Iranian Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Meybod
2
M.A in History of Islamic Iran, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Travelogues, as reliable sources, reflect the social, economic, political, and religious characteristics of their time, and through them, one can gain insight into the customs and prevalent culture of that historical period. Samuel Greely Wheeler Benjamin, the first United States Minister to Persia during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, published his observations of Iran in a travelogue titled "Persia and the Persians." The present research seeks to answer the question of what topics, from the perspective of Benjamin as an American envoy, held particular significance in the social and cultural dimensions of Iranian life. The findings of this research indicate that this travel writer had a relatively impartial, inquisitive, and empathetic perspective, and avoided any condescending view towards the people of Iran. He even describes the extent of Iranian charity and sacrifice as unimaginable for a Western audience. In his book, Benjamin examines various aspects of Iranian social and cultural life in the Naseri era, referring to topics such as religion, culture, social behaviors, and people's customs. The present research, with a descriptive-analytical approach and relying on library resources, especially Benjamin's travelogue, endeavors to review and re-analyze his analysis of the character, behavior, and socio-cultural characteristics of the Iranian people during the Naseri era
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