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

Samanid Commercial Relations with Northern and Eastern Europe: Focusing on the Role of Samanid Dirham Coins

Articles in Press

Document Type : .

Authors

Fatemeh Fallahnezhad 1
Javad Heravi 2
Amir hossein hatami 3

1 Savojbolagh County Education Department, Alborz Province, Iran PhD candidate of History,Tehran university of sciences and research

2 Department of History, Tehran University of Sciences and Research

3 Associate Professor, Department of History, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin

10.30465/ehs.2026.54857.2104
Abstract
The Samanids were a dynasty of Iranian origin whose amirs ruled over large parts of Transoxiana for nearly two centuries, from 261 to 395 AH. By establishing stability in the region, the Samanid amirs created favorable conditions for trade and commercial exchange with Europe through Khwarazm. Furthermore, given Europeans’ limited access to silver mines and the interest of the peoples of Eastern Europe—particularly Northern Europe (Scandinavia)—as well as the Viking peoples, in Samanid dirham coins, the Samanids minted these coins in large quantities.

The exchange of goods through Samanid dirhams also played a significant economic and cultural role in the Samanids’ relations with these regions of Europe. In particular, the peoples of Eastern Europe used these coins as models for minting their own coinage, thereby facilitating the dissemination of Samanid dirhams to various parts of Europe.



Employing a descriptive-analytical approach and drawing on historical and geographical sources, as well as an examination of the coins themselves, this article seeks to investigate the role of Samanid dirhams in the exchange of goods with Northern and Eastern Europe and to examine the reasons behind the Europeans’ interest in these coins.

Keywords

Samanids
Trade
Dirham coins
slave
Europe
Subjects
Tahqiqāt-e Târix-e Eqtesâdi (Economic History Studies of Iran)

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 September 2026

  • Receive Date 14 June 2026
  • Revise Date 06 September 2026
  • Accept Date 22 September 2026

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