Reading: An article from Donya-e Eqtesad Online about the foriegn monopolies during the Qajar era.
Listening: A 10-minute documentary aired on Iranian TV channels about Amir-e Kabir, the influential 19th-century prime minister of Qajar Iran known for his reformist policies and modernization efforts. Interestingly, the visuals in the documentary are based on the well-known 1985 Iranian TV series “Amir Kabir”.
Subject of Conversation: What were the reasons for Qajar weakness?
Students will discuss the main internal and external factors that contributed to the political and economic weakness of the Qajar state. The conversation will focus on the role of foreign interference, poor governance, and internal instability, encouraging students to use key vocabulary from the readings and video while expressing their opinions on the challenges Iran faced during the Qajar era.
Homework:
- Read the entire article and translate the paragraphs assigned by the instructor into English.
- Write a short summary of Amir Kabir’s life in Persian (150-200 words).
- Prepare for tomorrow’s discussion.
Vocabulary (Reading):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| امتیاز | emtiyāz | here: concession |
| سرمایه گذاری | sarmāyegozāri | investment |
| مطرح کردن | matrah kardan | to discuss, to consider, to bring up |
| سهم | sahm | share |
| اخذ | axz | acquisition |
| به‌رغم | be raγm-e | despite |
| به لحاظ | be lahāz-e | in terms of; regarding |
| مساله ساز | mas’alesāz | problematic |
| محدود | mahdud | restricted |
| استقراض | esteqrāz | loan |
| رجال سیاسی | rejāl-e siyāsi | politicians |
| تحکیم | tahkim | strengthening, consolidation |
| استخراج | estexrāj | exporting, taking out of sth; here: exploitation (of mines) |
| انحصار | enhesār | monopoly |
| صید ماهی | seyd-e māhi | fishing |
| تمدید | tamdid | extension, renewal |
| متوسل شدن | motevassel šodan | to resort |
| وام | vām | loan |
| سود | sud | interest |
| گمرکات | gomrokāt | customs |
| ضمانت | zemānat | guaranty |
| در اختیار کسی قرار دادن | dar extiyār-e kasi qarār dādan | to give to sb; to put sth at the disposal of sb |
| تهیه | tahiyye | preparation, supply |
| کاوش | kāvoš | excavation, exploration |
| نامحدود | nāmahdud | unlimited |
| محقق | mohaqqeq | researcher |
| تنباکو | tanbāku | tobacco |
| احداث | ehdās | construction, establishment |
| خط تلگراف | xatt-e telegraf | telegraph line |
| اتصال | ettesāl | connection |
| برقراری | barqarāri | establishment, setting up |
| اعطا | e'tā | granting |
| معادن (مفرد: معدن) | ma‘āden (sing. ma'dan) | mines |
| فلزات قیمتی | felezzāt-e qeymati | precious metals |
| زغال سنگ | zoγāl sang | coal |
| موجب شدن | moujeb šodan | to cause |
| حیرت | heyrat | astonishment, wonder |
| اتباع (مفرد: تابع) | atbā' (sing. tābe') | citizens, nationals |
Vocabulary (Listening):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| همردیف | hamradif | peer, equal, counterpart |
| توسعه | touse‘e | development |
| عظمت | ‘azamat | greatness, glory |
| سخن به میان آوردن | soxan be miyān āvardan | to bring up, to mention |
| متعالی | mota‘āli | high, elevated, sublime |
| رقم زدن | raqam zadan | to shape, to define |
| رعیت | ra‘iyyat | subject, commoner (historical) |
| جان به سر شدن | jān be sar šodan | to die, to sacrifice one's life |
| قداره‌بند | qaddāreband | thug, brute; strongman |
| فریب و خدعه | farib o xod‘e | deception and trickery |
| متصل کردن | mottasel kardan | to connect, to attach |
| صراط مستقیم | serāt-e mostaqim | the straight path (Quranic) |
| نامرئی | nāmar’i | invisible |
| به سمت درآمدن | be semat darāmadan | to assume an office |
| ماندگار | māndegār | lasting, enduring |
| متین | matin | composed, dignified |
| عزم | ‘azm | will, determination |
| راستکردار | rāstkerdār | righteous, upright |
| فسادناپذیر | fesādnāpazir | incorruptible |
| پایبند به عهد | pāyband be ‘ahd | committed to a promise |
| شهرت‌گریز | šohratgoriz | fame-averse, humble |
| سر به مهر | sar be mohr | sealed, secretive (often metaphorical) |
| حب غایت | hobb-e γāyat | dedication, devotion to the ultimate goal |
| صدارت | sedārat | premiership |
| ولیعهد | vali‘ahd | crown prince |
| منشی | monši | secretary |
| وکیل | vakil | representative |
| تام الاختیار | tāmmolextiyār | fully authorized, plenipotentiary |
| اختلافات | extelāfāt | disagreements, disputes |
| به امضا رسیدن | be emzā residan | to be signed |
| سرحد | sarhadd | border |
| حدود (مفرد: حد) | hodud (sing. hadd) | borders, boundaries, limits |
| فیصله دادن | feysale dādan | to resolve, to settle |
| بر تخت نشستن | bar taxt nešastan | to ascend the throne |
| به منصب رسیدن | be mansab residan | to attain office, to be appointed |
| عدالت | ‘edālat | justice |
| حسن‌رفتار | hosn-e raftār | kind approach, good manners |
| وثوق | vosuq | trust, credibility |
| صدراعظم | sedr-e a‘zam | grand vizier, prime minister (historical) |
| تعدیل بودجه | ta‘dil-e budje | budget adjustment |
| اقدامات | eqdāmāt | actions, measures |
| نظم‌بخشی | nazmbaxši | organizing, bringing order |
| قشون | qošun | army (archaic) |
| دارالفنون | dārolfonun | Dar ol-Fonun (institute of higher education in Qajar Iran) |
| سلب امتیاز کردن | salb-e emtiyāz kardan | to revoke a privilege |