Iranian, Afghan or Central Asian? Patterns of mobility among Persianate Jews in the 19th and early 20th centuries

Abstract

Focusing on aspects of mobility and daily life, this paper aims to highlight the history of nineteenth century Persian Jews as one of interconnectedness, but also separation. Various forms of interaction such as marriage, trade and the circulation of literature connected communities of Central Asian, Afghan and Iranian Jews, while they at the same time maintained or developed distinct identities. Departing from ideas of Persian Jews as isolated from their environment, I discuss aspects of interaction with different actors such as local Turkmen tribes, governors or religious authorities. The ancient city of Merv in today’s Turkmenistan, a former hub for Jews from Iran, Central Asia and Afghanistan, challenges notions of ‘center’ and ‘periphery’ and points out how Persian speaking Jews contributed to the socio-economic environments in which they were active. Their movements and activities are crucial for understanding the formation of (transregional) communities and their relevance for global history.