Tahqiqāt-e Târix-e Eqtesâdi (Economic History Studies of Iran)

Economic changes in Hormuz during the Portuguese period (912 AH to 996 AH)

Document Type : .

Author

Paniz Pashang

Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.30465/ehs.2025.51155.2041
Abstract
The emirs of Hormuz, during the 8th and 9th centuries AH, took advantage of the island’s strategic position as a transit hub and its trade relations with major ports in the East. Consequently, Hormuz, by virtue of this commercial role, held a superior economic status in the region.

However, with the Portuguese conquest of Hormuz in the 10th century AH, the island’s economic standing as the main center of trade in the Persian Gulf underwent complex and ambiguous changes that remain unclear to researchers. The arrival of the Portuguese connected Hormuz’s economy to the global economy, which led to a growth in regional trade. At the same time, archival documents and sources reveal the weakening of merchants’ livelihoods and the decline of the local economy.

This research primarily aims to study the economy of Hormuz from 912 AH to 996 AH, using research and archival document analysis, to clarify why despite the increase in revenues during these years, the economic decline of Hormuz under Portuguese rule has been reported. The review of documents indicates that the growing revenues during this period were not invested in strengthening Hormuz’s commercial infrastructure, but rather served the interests of Portuguese captains and officials.

Keywords

Persian Gulf
Hormuz
Portuguese
regional economy
Local economy
Trade
Customs
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 22 April 2025
  • Revise Date 30 June 2025
  • Accept Date 10 August 2025

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