Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Faculty member, University of Guilan
Abstract
The peasant movement in Gilan during the Constitutional Era was rooted in the region’s geographical structure, land tenure system, and social awakening in the years leading up to the transformations of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran, especially in Gilan. Gilan’s prosperous agriculture and economy drew significant attention from governments during the Safavid and Qajar dynasties. However, instead of improving the livelihood of rural communities, the dominance of landlords over peasants and the government’s heavy taxation contributed to their increasing poverty and deprivation. Moreover, Russia’s political influence in Gilan and the activities of merchants under Russian protection attracted Russian capitalists to the region. Consequently, Gilan became the only province in Iran that repeatedly witnessed significant peasant movements against landlords and the government. The establishment of parliamentary governance and the declaration of the constitutional system failed to liberate peasants from the oppressive feudal system. Nonetheless, the social awakening of that era led to increased awareness of their rights among peasants. After losing hope in the effectiveness of their protests, peasants initiated numerous movements aimed at improving conditions and abolishing the feudal system along with its related customs. This article seeks to answer the following questions: What were the factors leading to the failure of Gilan’s peasant movements during the Constitutional Era? And how did the National Consultative Assembly respond to the demands of Gilan’s peasants? The findings of the research indicate that the primary cause of repeated uprisings in Gilan was the harsh living conditions imposed on peasants by landlords.
Keywords
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