Religious attitude and religious minorities Abbas I of Persia
kelisa-e vank (the armenian vank cathedral) in new julfa
abbas tolerant of christianity. italian traveller pietro della valle astonished @ shah s knowledge of christian history , theology , establishing diplomatic links european christian states vital part of shah s foreign policy. christian armenia key safavid province bordering ottoman empire. 1604 abbas implemented scorched earth policy in region protect north-western frontier against invading ottoman forces, policy involved forced resettlement of 300,000 armenians homelands. armenians came wealthy armenian merchant town of jugha (also known jolfa). many transferred new julfa, town shah had built armenians meant these armenians jugha ( old julfa ), near capital isfahan. thousands of armenians died on journey. survived enjoyed considerable religious freedom in new julfa, shah built them new cathedral. abbas aim boost iranian economy encouraging armenian merchants had moved new julfa. religious liberties, offered them interest-free loans , allowed town elect own mayor (kalantar). other armenians transferred provinces of gilan , mazandaran. these less lucky. abbas wanted establish second capital in mazandaran, farahabad, climate unhealthy , malarial. many settlers died , others gradually abandoned city.
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