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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](https://content.bartleby.com/qna-images/question/e31b04c7-7aed-4902-a3c6-6a04e23db89b/f03e8189-3ab5-434b-91a5-c980f99893a4/hf83pfa.png)
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
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.
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