A History Of Persia (Volume 2)

Sir Percy Sykes documents the evolution of the Persian Empire starting from the conquests of Alexander the Great and terminating in the early twentieth century. This second volume focuses on the transition from medieval dynasties to the era of modern geopolitics. Sykes details the rise of the Safavid and Qajar reigns, the administrative structures of the Islamic era, and the increasing pressure of European diplomacy. The text tracks the specific impact of British, French, and Russian colonial interests on Persian sovereignty and the subsequent emergence of the international oil industry.

This volume serves historians and researchers focused on Middle Eastern political development and diplomatic history. Readers gain a technical understanding of how geographic isolation and colonial encroachment shaped the Persian state’s borders and resource management. Scholars use Sykes’ observations as a primary source for studying regional transitions from nomadic systems to industrial governance. The book provides a factual foundation for analyzing the nineteenth-century "Great Game" and its lasting effects on Iranian infrastructure and foreign policy.

Outward-looking; a demanding read.

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