Russia and Iran in the Great Game: Travelogues and Orientalism (Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Historyá)

This book examines the Russian explorers and officials in the nineteenth and early twentieth century who came into contact with Iran as a part of the Great Game. It demonstrates the development of Russia's own form of Orientalism, a phenomenon that has previously been thought to be exclusive to the West. 1. Setting The Stage -- 2. Orientalism Russian Style -- The Concept Of Orientalism : Western European Version -- Russian National Identity And Russian Orientalism -- 3. Overview Of The Russian Travelogues And Their Authors -- Pre-nineteenth Century Russian Travelogues About Iran -- The Main Features Of The Russian Travelogues About Iran In The Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries -- The Authors Of The Travelogues -- 4. The Travelers' Missions In Iran -- Russian Military Aims And Activities In Iran -- Russian Diplomacy In Iran -- Russian Emigrants In Iran -- Russian Trade In Iran -- 5. The Travelers' Self-representation Vis-à-vis The Oriental Other And The British Self -- 6. The Travelees : Representation Of Iran And Her People By The Russian Travelers -- Power Of The Gaze -- The Travelees : Manners And Morals -- 7. The Travelees : Education, Culture And Society -- The Iranian Army -- Lack Of Education -- Iranian Medicine -- Iranian Arts And Architecture -- Iran As A Country Of Ruins -- 8. Islam As Perceived By The Russian Travelers -- Mullahs, Dervishes And Sayyeds -- Shiʼi And Sunni Muslims -- Iranians And Infidels -- Muslim Customs And Rituals -- 9. Gender And Ethnicity -- Iranian Women And Prosaic Harems -- The Travelers' Religious And Ethnic Preferences -- 10. Travelers And Travelees : Russians Through Iranian Eyes As Imagined By The Travelers (discourse With Themselves) -- 'anti-romanticism' -- Conclusion -- Appendix : Iran Before World War I -- Appendix : Travelogues. Elena Andreeva. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [209]-268) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of illustrations......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Introduction......Page 16 1 Setting the stage......Page 28 2 Orientalism Russian style......Page 37 3 Overview of the Russian travelogues and their authors......Page 51 4 The travelers’ missions in Iran......Page 74 5 The travelers’ self-representation vis-à-vis the Oriental “Other” and the British “Self”......Page 92 6 The “travelees” – representation of Iran and her people by the Russian travelers......Page 103 7 The “travelees” – education, culture and society......Page 126 8 Islam as perceived by the Russian travelers......Page 146 9 Gender and ethnicity......Page 171 10 Travelers and travelees: Russians through Iranian eyes as imagined by the travelers (discourse with themselves)......Page 200 Conclusion......Page 214 Appendix 1: Iran before World War I......Page 217 Appendix 2: Travelogues......Page 218 Notes......Page 224 Bibliography......Page 262 Index......Page 284 This book provides a unique insight into the Russian explorers and officials in the nineteenth and early twentieth century who came into contact with Iran as a part of the Great Game.