Tarikh Islam

This paper studies the social function of the Shiite Clericalism in the Qajar period based on European travelogues. The popular position of the Shiite Clericalism in the Qajar period compared to previous periods is one of the reasons for the importance of this research. Because during the Safavid period, the government had a close relationship with the Shiite Clericalism, as in Naderi and Zand dynasty period, they played a role in legitimizing governments. The main issue of this research is the type of tourists’ attitude towards the function of the Shiite Clericalism, since the tourists have had detailed reports on the social relations of different periods and regions of Iran during the Qajar period. The results of this study show that the Shiite Clericalism had a close relationship with the cultural, educational and political situation through (kataatiib) schools, mosques, and people’s daily affairs. Of course, due to the cultural differences between the tourists and the Iranian-Islamic culture, or because, their interests were threatened by the Shiite Clericalism, biased reports can be seen in their travelogues.