Document Type : .
Authors
1
Ph.D. Candidate of History of Iran, Department of History, Faculty of Literature AlZahra University, Tehran, Iran
2
Associate professor, Department of History, Faculty of Literature, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
10.30465/ehs.2026.52983.2067
Abstract
Commercial relations, as a cornerstone of interstate connections, are influenced by governmental policies, political geography, and mutual economic needs. This study, employing a historical method and a descriptive-analytical approach, draws on Chinese, English, and Persian sources to examine the trade relations between the Timurid (771-911 AH/1370-1506 CE) and Ming (770-1053 AH/1368-1644 CE) dynasties. The findings reveal that the Timurids exported goods such as horses, lion pelts, and wool to the Ming court, while the Ming supplied metal artifacts, botanical products, and medicinal materials. Despite the parity between the two dynasties, the Ming, due to the emperor’s monopoly over foreign trade, interpreted these exchanges as “tributary trade.” Notwithstanding geographical and political constraints, these interactions played a pivotal role in the economic balance of both empires. For the Timurids, the influx of currency and technology bolstered the financial stability of the courts in Herat and Samarkand, while for the Ming, access to rare animal and mineral resources strengthened their military and cultural supply chains.
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