Homework Help is Here – Start Your Trial Now!
Social Science
History
ean de Chardin (1643-1713) was a Frenchman who traveled twice to the Safavid empire in Iran (or Persia, as Europeans then called it), learning the language and forming strong opinions about the inhabitants. His Travels in Persia is a valuable primary source on European-Iranian relations in the important to remember is estant member of the be French middle class. Ther lowing document is a co be used to reveal Chardin the contrasts he draws wi

ean de Chardin (1643-1713) was a Frenchman who traveled twice to the Safavid empire in Iran (or Persia, as Europeans then called it), learning the language and forming strong opinions about the inhabitants. His Travels in Persia is a valuable primary source on European-Iranian relations in the important to remember is estant member of the be French middle class. Ther lowing document is a co be used to reveal Chardin the contrasts he draws wi

icon
Related questions
Question

In Chardin’s view, what are the most positive and negative attributes of the Persians?

A French View of the Iranians ean de Chardin (1643–1713) was a Frenchman who traveled twice to the Safavid empire in Iran (or Persia, as Europeans then called it), learning the language and forming strong opinions about the inhabitants. His Travels in Persia is a valuable primary source on European-Iranian relations in the late seventeenth century. Still, as with all such travel accounts, we must be cautious about accepting his portrait at face value. It is important to consider the author's own point of view. For one thing, Chardin was a jeweler, and he was frustrated by what he saw as "deceits" and "tricks" in his business dealings, experiences that may have colored his perspective. Even more important to remember is that Chardin was a Prot- estant member of the bourgeoisie, the emerging French middle class. Therefore, as much as the fol- lowing document is a comment on Iranians, it can be used to reveal Chardin's own worldview through the contrasts he draws with his hosts, highlighting his own values of thrift, foresight, plain speaking, hard work, and detached curiosity. Source Sir John Chardin, Travels in Persia, 1673-1677, an abridged English version of Voyages du chevalier Chardin en Perse, et autres baux de l'Oriant (London, Argonaut Press, 1927), p. 70. Spelling and usage have been modernized. From Travels in Persia They [Iranlans] are true philosophers on the ac- count of (their]... hope and fear of a future state; they are little guilty of covetousness, and are only desirous of getting, that they may spend it; they love to enjoy the present, and deny themselves nothing that they are able to procure, taking no thought for the morrow, and relying whdly on providence, and their own fate; they firmly belleve it to be sure and unal- terable... so when any misfortune happens to them, they are not cast down, as most men are, they only say quletly [so] it is ordained.... The most commendable property of the manners of the Perslans, is their kindness to strangers; the reception and protection they afford them, and their universal hospitality, and toleration, in regard to religion, except the clergy of the country, who, as in all other places, hate to a furlous degree, all those that differ from their opinions. The Persians are very civil, and very honest tn matters of re- liglon; so far that they allow those who have embraced theirs, to recant, and resume their former opinion.... They beleve thatall men's prayers are good and prevalent; therefore, in their illnesses, and in other wants, they admit of, and even desire the prayers of different re- liglons. ... This is not to be imputed to their religious principles... but I impute it to the sweet temper of that nation, who are natu- rally averse to contest and cruelty.... Two opposite customs are commonly practiced by the Perslans; that of praising God continually, and talking of his attributes, and that of uttering curses, and obscene talk. Whether you see them at home, or meet them in the streets, going about business or walking; you still hear them uttering some blessing or prayer... The least thing they set their hand to do, they say, "In the Name of God"; and they never speak of doing any- thing, without adding, "If it pleases God...." [At] the same time, come out of the same men's mouths a thousand obscene expres- sions. All ranks of men are infected with this odlous vice. Their bawdy talk is taken from Arse, and C-t, which modesty forbids one to name. ... [W]hen they have spent their Stock of bawdy names, they begin to call one another Atheists, Idolaters, Jews, Christlans; and to say to one another, "The Christians Dogs are better than thou..." The Eastern People are not near so rest- less, and so uneasy as we; they sit gravely and soberly, make no motion with their body ... for they don't belleve that a man that is in his
Transcribed Image Text:A French View of the Iranians ean de Chardin (1643–1713) was a Frenchman who traveled twice to the Safavid empire in Iran (or Persia, as Europeans then called it), learning the language and forming strong opinions about the inhabitants. His Travels in Persia is a valuable primary source on European-Iranian relations in the late seventeenth century. Still, as with all such travel accounts, we must be cautious about accepting his portrait at face value. It is important to consider the author's own point of view. For one thing, Chardin was a jeweler, and he was frustrated by what he saw as "deceits" and "tricks" in his business dealings, experiences that may have colored his perspective. Even more important to remember is that Chardin was a Prot- estant member of the bourgeoisie, the emerging French middle class. Therefore, as much as the fol- lowing document is a comment on Iranians, it can be used to reveal Chardin's own worldview through the contrasts he draws with his hosts, highlighting his own values of thrift, foresight, plain speaking, hard work, and detached curiosity. Source Sir John Chardin, Travels in Persia, 1673-1677, an abridged English version of Voyages du chevalier Chardin en Perse, et autres baux de l'Oriant (London, Argonaut Press, 1927), p. 70. Spelling and usage have been modernized. From Travels in Persia They [Iranlans] are true philosophers on the ac- count of (their]... hope and fear of a future state; they are little guilty of covetousness, and are only desirous of getting, that they may spend it; they love to enjoy the present, and deny themselves nothing that they are able to procure, taking no thought for the morrow, and relying whdly on providence, and their own fate; they firmly belleve it to be sure and unal- terable... so when any misfortune happens to them, they are not cast down, as most men are, they only say quletly [so] it is ordained.... The most commendable property of the manners of the Perslans, is their kindness to strangers; the reception and protection they afford them, and their universal hospitality, and toleration, in regard to religion, except the clergy of the country, who, as in all other places, hate to a furlous degree, all those that differ from their opinions. The Persians are very civil, and very honest tn matters of re- liglon; so far that they allow those who have embraced theirs, to recant, and resume their former opinion.... They beleve thatall men's prayers are good and prevalent; therefore, in their illnesses, and in other wants, they admit of, and even desire the prayers of different re- liglons. ... This is not to be imputed to their religious principles... but I impute it to the sweet temper of that nation, who are natu- rally averse to contest and cruelty.... Two opposite customs are commonly practiced by the Perslans; that of praising God continually, and talking of his attributes, and that of uttering curses, and obscene talk. Whether you see them at home, or meet them in the streets, going about business or walking; you still hear them uttering some blessing or prayer... The least thing they set their hand to do, they say, "In the Name of God"; and they never speak of doing any- thing, without adding, "If it pleases God...." [At] the same time, come out of the same men's mouths a thousand obscene expres- sions. All ranks of men are infected with this odlous vice. Their bawdy talk is taken from Arse, and C-t, which modesty forbids one to name. ... [W]hen they have spent their Stock of bawdy names, they begin to call one another Atheists, Idolaters, Jews, Christlans; and to say to one another, "The Christians Dogs are better than thou..." The Eastern People are not near so rest- less, and so uneasy as we; they sit gravely and soberly, make no motion with their body ... for they don't belleve that a man that is in his
wits, can be so full of action as we are... I'l repeat it once more: The Persians are the most kind people in the world; they have the most moving and the most engaging ways, the most complying tempers, the smoothest and the most flattering tongues, avolding in their conversation, relations or expressions which may occasion melancholy thoughts.... As civil as that nation is, they never act out of generosity.... They do nothing but out of a principle of Interest, that is to say, out of hope or fear: And they cannot concelve that there should be such a country where people will do their duty from a motive of vir- tue only, without any other recompense. It is quite the contrary with them; they are paid for everything, and beforehand too. One can ask nothing of them, but with a present in one's hand. ... The poorest and most miser- able people never appear before a great man, or one from whom they would ask some fa- vor, but at the same time they offer a present, which is never refused, even by the greatest lords of the kingdom.... As for what relates to travelling, those journeys that are made out of pure curlos- ity are... inconcelvable to the Perslans.... They have no taste of the pleasure we enjoy in seeing different manners from ours, and hearing of a language which we donot under- stand.... They asked me if it was possible that there should be such people amongst us, who would travel two or three thousand leagues with so much danger, and inconveniency, only to see how they were made, and what they did in Persla, and upon no other design. These people are of the opinion, as I have ob- served, that one cannot better attain to vir- tue, nor have a fuller taste of pleasure than by resting and dwelling at home, and that it is not good to travel, but to acquire riches.... It is from this spirit of theirs no doubt, that the Perslans are so grossly ignorant of the present state of other nations of the world, and that they do not so much as understand geogra- phy, and have no maps; which comes from this, that having no curiosity to see other countries. ... The Ministers of State gener- ally speaking, know no more what passes in Europe, than in the world of the moon. The greatest part, even have but a confused idea of Europe, which they look upon to be some little island in the North Seas, where there is nothing to be found that is elther good or handsome; from whence it comes, say they, that the Europeans go all over the world, in search of fine things, and of those which are necessary, as being destitute of them.
Transcribed Image Text:wits, can be so full of action as we are... I'l repeat it once more: The Persians are the most kind people in the world; they have the most moving and the most engaging ways, the most complying tempers, the smoothest and the most flattering tongues, avolding in their conversation, relations or expressions which may occasion melancholy thoughts.... As civil as that nation is, they never act out of generosity.... They do nothing but out of a principle of Interest, that is to say, out of hope or fear: And they cannot concelve that there should be such a country where people will do their duty from a motive of vir- tue only, without any other recompense. It is quite the contrary with them; they are paid for everything, and beforehand too. One can ask nothing of them, but with a present in one's hand. ... The poorest and most miser- able people never appear before a great man, or one from whom they would ask some fa- vor, but at the same time they offer a present, which is never refused, even by the greatest lords of the kingdom.... As for what relates to travelling, those journeys that are made out of pure curlos- ity are... inconcelvable to the Perslans.... They have no taste of the pleasure we enjoy in seeing different manners from ours, and hearing of a language which we donot under- stand.... They asked me if it was possible that there should be such people amongst us, who would travel two or three thousand leagues with so much danger, and inconveniency, only to see how they were made, and what they did in Persla, and upon no other design. These people are of the opinion, as I have ob- served, that one cannot better attain to vir- tue, nor have a fuller taste of pleasure than by resting and dwelling at home, and that it is not good to travel, but to acquire riches.... It is from this spirit of theirs no doubt, that the Perslans are so grossly ignorant of the present state of other nations of the world, and that they do not so much as understand geogra- phy, and have no maps; which comes from this, that having no curiosity to see other countries. ... The Ministers of State gener- ally speaking, know no more what passes in Europe, than in the world of the moon. The greatest part, even have but a confused idea of Europe, which they look upon to be some little island in the North Seas, where there is nothing to be found that is elther good or handsome; from whence it comes, say they, that the Europeans go all over the world, in search of fine things, and of those which are necessary, as being destitute of them.
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

SEE SOLUTIONCheck out a sample Q&A here
Blurred answer