Population Concentration of Jews in the Cities of Iran From the Saljukid era to the attack of Mongols

Abstract

Despite much demographical information on Jews living in Arab territory of the Islamic era, there is not much information available about the population dispersion of Jews in Iran through the Saljoughi period. Since there is more information on the time period before the attack of Mongols, there is a chance of considering the population concentration and the living places of Iranian Jews in this era. Despite their small number, Iranian Jews had a more settlement dispersion in comparison with other religious minorities. As tradesmen, they concentrated in cities that were the main economical and business poles of Iran of that era. This should be considered as one of the factors that gained them political, economical and social advantages through the Ilkhani era.

Keywords

• Iranian Jews
• dhimmitude
• population concentration
• Jews settlements