Document Type : .

Authors

• Ebrahim Aslani ¹
• Abdolah Motevali ²
• Mohammad Hassanbeigi ³
• Masomeh Mosavi ⁴

¹ Assistance professor of history, Arak University, Arak, Iran.

² Associate professor of history , Arak University. Arak, Iran

³ Assistance professor of history, Arak University, Arak, Iran

⁴ M.A in history, Arak university, Arak, Iran

Abstract

In every society, according to human necessity and need, centers have been established for rest and leisure. In Iran, too, coffeehouses were built for this purpose from the Safavid era. This place became part of the urban fabric as a public place from then on. The nature of public space requires that people of different occupations and tastes come together in it. Gradually, the relationships between these people became stronger as a result of frequent visits, and they not only influenced each other’s personalities and ways of thinking, but also influenced the course of cultural developments in society. Of course, the presence of desirable people had constructive effects and consequently the presence of undesirable people had adverse effects on the type of behavior and etiquette of the people. Considering that coffeehouses were part of the influential public places in the Qajar era, this paper intends to examine some of the negative functions of coffeehouses by relying on sources and using descriptive-analytical method. Therefore, the main question of the paper is as follows. What negative functions can be attributed to coffeehouses in the Qajar era? The research data shows that coffeehouses were popular and attractive among different social classes in the Qajar era. Therefore, along with their positive functions, they were also a place for various social crimes. Social conflicts, drunkenness, gambling, sodomy and addiction were among the most important abnormalities that occurred in this place. In fact, the presence of undesirable people made coffeehouses a suitable place for all kinds of crimes and behaviors that challenged the moral rules of society.

Keywords

• Coffeehouse
• Theft
• Conflict and Strife
• Addiction
• Moral corruption
• Unemployment

Extended Abstract

 Social and Ethical Challenges of Coffeehouses during the Qajar Era

In every society, based on human necessity and need, centers have been established for rest and leisure. In Iran, the coffeehouse was built with this purpose during the Safavid era. Therefore, the first coffeehouses in Iran appeared probably during the reign of Shah Tahmasp Safavi (930-984), in the city of Qazvin. Later, during the reign of Shah Abbas I (996-1038), their number increased in the city of Isfahan. During the Safavid era, the coffeehouse was a place to drink tea and coffee and smoke hookah. However, after the fall of the Safavid dynasty and due to political instability which naturally affected all aspects of social life; coffeehouses and coffeehouse sitting were closed and only operated limitedly in some places. Until the establishment of the Qajar dynasty, especially during Naser al-Din Shah’s reign, conditions for the expansion of coffeehouses in major Iranian cities, including Tehran, were provided. Coffeehouses regained their vitality and during this period these centers were not only a place to drink tea and coffee and smoke hookah but also recitation of Shahnameh, reading Eskandarnameh, explaining Molla Motaghian, eulogy, and storytelling also became popular there.

These places from then on became part of the urban fabric as a public place; and as the nature of a public place requires; people from various intellectual occupations and tastes gathered there and gradually relationships between these people became stronger due to numerous comings and goings and these not only affected each other’s temperaments and thoughts but also influenced the course of cultural developments in society as a whole. Of course, the presence of desirable people had a constructive effect and consequently, the presence of undesirable people had reverse effects on people’s behavior and manners.

Given that coffeehouses were considered influential public places during the Qajar era, this research intends to provide an overview of the abnormal dimensions of coffeehouses using a descriptive-analytical method and at the same time present its implications. Therefore, the main question of this paper can be posed as what negative functions can be attributed to coffeehouses during the Qajar era? In response, it should be said that this paper intends to examine some negative functions of coffeehouses relying on resources and using a descriptive-analytical method. The research data shows that coffeehouses as a public place during the Qajar era were popular among different social classes. Therefore, alongside their positive functions, they were also a place for various social crimes. Social conflicts, drunkenness, gambling, homosexuality, and addiction were among the most important abnormalities that occurred in these places. In fact, the presence of undesirable people made coffeehouses a suitable place for all kinds of offenses and criminal behaviors that challenged societal moral rules.

In terms of research background, it should be said that so far some research works have been presented regarding some functional aspects of coffeehouses during the Qajar era which can be referred to Ahmad Bolokbashi’s book titled “Coffeehouses in Iran”. This book generally examines issues and general features of Iranian coffeehouses. But it does not contain any independent content regarding abnormalities related to coffeehouses. Another book in this regard has been written by Ali Seif titled “Coffeehouse Painting”. The main focus of this book is also on coffeehouse painting and life of coffeehouse painters. In addition to books in terms of articles one can refer to Tohid Ahadi’s article titled “Azari Coffeehouse” which covers more general issues about coffeehouses. Also one can refer to “Role and Function of Tehran Coffeehouses during Qajar Era” written by Ahmad Kamrani Far and Narjes Architect which mainly focuses on issues related to Tehran’s coffeehouses. Thus it can be said that so far no independent research has been presented regarding abnormal dimensions of coffeehouses.

Keywords: Coffeehouse, Theft, Conflict and Fight, Addiction, Moral Corruption, Unemployment