The Anglo-Dutch Rivalry over Trade in Persia during the Seventeenth Century

Abstract

This paper examines the Anglo-Dutch rivalry over trade in Persia during the seventeenth century, following the rivalry that had existed in the sixteenth century. The Portuguese, who had dominated the region’s political, military, and commercial capabilities, began to lose their influence after their expulsion from Hormuz in 1622, and then faded after their expulsion from Muscat in 1650. An important factor directly related to the changes that occurred and affected the nature of global and Asian trade is what is known as the Asian port trade or “Country Trade.”The article also focuses on the volume of trade and the types of goods that were transported and exchanged in the region by European companies, and the conflict and commercial competition that took place between them to monopolize materials and goods from the east, foremost of which are spices and silk, in addition to many other goods, some of which urgently needed markets where they could exchange their products, such as wool, of which the British produced large quantities that exceeded their needs.