|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Raeesnia, Rahim
History, Iran, and The Ottomans
Sotoodeh Press, Tabriz, 1995, 3 Vols., PP 1577
In an efforts to confront the growing technological and social progress of the west, the Ottomans planned to reform both their civil service and military systems characterized by the 1839-1876 reforms called "Tanzimat".
The Ottomans' programs influenced the sociopolitical climate of the neighboring Muslim countries of the Middle East, including Iran. The future contacts made by those countries with the new civilization of the west, gradually resulted in many sociopolitical movements in the region such as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran.
In fact, this is the first book of its kind whose author has shed lights, in detail, on this particular angle of the contemporary Iranian history. Other historians have rarely covered the subject.
The first two volumes elaborates on the influence of the Ottomans' reforms on such prominent Iranian reformists of the time as Amir Kabir and Sepahsalar.
Although, in many chapters of the book the author discusses specifically the Ottoman's reforms, but he actually put his main emphasis on the in fluence of "Akhtar's" editorials on the sociopolitical thinking of such Iranian intellectuals as Malcolm Khan, Zeyn Al Abedeen Maragheyi, Talebove, Mostashar Al Dowleh, Mirza Aqha Khan Kermani, and Seyyed Jamal Asadabadi.
In the meanwhile, the author touches lightly issues such as Tobacco Boycott and Iranian Alphabet Reform Movements.
The third chapter specifically describes the process of the "Domination of the west and adoption of Western civilization" by Ottomans starting in mid 19th Century until the end of the World War One.
In the last chapter, the reader will find a translated version of a very important document, "Remsator Doctorine", on the history of the "Young Turks" that was considered by historians as a prelude to the foundation of modern Turkey.
The book's high quality print, professional layout, and orderly structure of index also matches its rich content.
source: "Jahan-e-Ketab Biweekly" No. 2 , 2nd half of Oct. 1995.