ABSTRACT
Of all the states of the Near East, outside Arabia, Iran, in 1921, had the least experience of modernization. The physical form of Iran had contributed to this circumstance. The vast deserts of central and south eastern Iran pushed human activity into the north and west so that two thirds of the population was strung out along the chains of the Elburz and the Zagros and in the rolling plains of the north western provinces. In so large a country lacking modern technology the decentralization of political authority was a natural consequence; the provinces paid small attention and less taxation to the Qājār monarchy in Tehran. At central and provincial levels power was in the hands of notables whose wealth was based primarily on landholding, sometimes on tribal or religious status, occasionally on wealth derived from trade. Under the constitution of 1906–7 Iran was a monarchy with a two chamber parliament which had extensive powers over legislation and finance and a veto over concessions, loans, railways and roads. It could also force the dismissal of governments. In fact most of the constitution was inoperative; the second chamber had never been created and the assembly (Majlis) had not met since 1915.
