The Mongols in Iran
Judith Kolbas
Routledge
The administration of Iran under Mongol rule was often complex. Nevertheless, the book is able to explore it by means of taxation and monetary policy. A consistent development emerges through the abundant numismatic material available from the conquest of Samarqand by Chingiz Khan to the reign of the penultimate ruler, Uljaytu. In many cases, the individuals responsible for initiating and conducting policies can be identified from the special marks of mint masters. Moreover, the structure of the empire was clearly demarcated by mint production, coin styles and type of metal. The analysis illuminates many controversial historical points such as the meaning and function of an il-khan and the process and date of the establishment of the Toluid Dynasty after Hulagu. In Iran, the Mongols broke the crust of an inflexible and archaic Islamic monetary tradition that had been hampering economic growth. They did so by encouraging extensive trade and the advancement of sciences, especially astronomy and higher mathematics, with determined and always pragmatic programmes.
Judith Kolbas studied in the US and Lebanon, conducted research around the world and then lived in Mongolia and the UK. She is currently vice president of the Royal Asiatic Society, and explores trade routes, often by camel, in Chinese Turkestan and Inner Mongolia. | 
