IRAN AND THE WORLD IN THE SAFAVID AGE
Abstracts 

Bekius, Mr. René, Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Persian Armenian Colony in Amsterdam during the Safavid Period

The Armenian colony in Amsterdam reached a new highpoint around 1714, just when the Safavid Empire was on the verge of collapse.  This paper first presents statistics showing the scale of three major waves of migration of Armenians to Amsterdam.

Secondly, it quantifies the notarial archives to indicate the residential pattern of Armenian merchants in Amsterdam, and the extent to which they married Dutch women and adapted to the Dutch language.

Thirdly, it sketches how the Armenian immigrants were gradually accepted in the economic life of Amsterdam, being active on the Stock Exchange as silk traders and in the Amsterdam Exchange Bank, and dealing with the Dutch East India Company (case 1699). It also shows briefly the great variety of import and export products of Dutch Armenians.

Finally, it presents data of the Iranian Armenian merchants who financed the purchase of the Armenian Church in 1714.

  
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