Safevi Ülkesinin İngiliz Konukları (İngiliz Tacirlerin İran Seyahatleri, 1562-1581)

English merchants participated in overseas trade in the 16th century and gradually increased their roles in this trade. Joint-stock companies, which were sponsored by the Kingdom of England, were the greatest factor in this increase. One of those joint-stock companies was founded in Russia in 1553 and took control of the Russian trade in a short time. Meantime Anthony Jenkinson was appointed as captain-general of the Muscovy Company in 1557. His initial step was to make an expedition of discovery to Caspian Sea and beyond. He noticed commercial potential of Persia during his expedition. Thereupon, he went to Persia as an envoy to convey a letter from Queen Elizabeth I. His aim was to obtain some privileges for the English merchants from Shah Tahmasb. But his demand was rejected by the Shah. However, Muscovy Company decided to maintain the journeys to Persia. So, it organized five more journeys until 1581. Those journeys were the first diplomatic and commercial relations between the Safavids and the England.