User:EH James/sandbox

Proposal
Brydges, H. J. (1833). Dynasty of the Kajars (1st Edition ed.). London: J. Bohn.

This source is a translation of a Persian chronicle of the ruling families of Persia during the Russo-Persian Wars. The Persian text is titled Ma’asir-i Sultaniyah: Tarikh-I Jangha yi Avval-I Iran va Rus and was written by Abd al-Razzaq Dunbuli, a Persian chronicler, in 1825. This source records not only the Persian dynasties, but their involvement in the Russo-Persian Wars and their relations with neighbouring countries such as the Ottoman Empire. This source is a translation of a relevant primary document, and therefore provides useful and reliable information regarding the Persian rulers. Although it is not from a neutral point of view, as it is written by an official Persian chronicler and thereby biased towards a Persian viewpoint, it contributes relevant information to all sections of the article as it is a translation of a detailed firsthand account.

Shafiyev, F. (2018). Russian Conquest in the South Caucasus. In Resettling the Borderlands: State Relocations and Ethnic Conflict in the South Caucasus (pp. 16-42). Montreal; Kingston; London; Chicago: McGill-Queen's University Press.

This source will be used in the “Second Russo-Persian War (1722-1723)” and the “Third Russo-Persian War (1796)” sections of the article. It provides insight into the reigns of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, the imperial monarchs ruling Russia during these conflicts. It additionally provides specific economic and diplomatic motives for Russia’s desire to annex the South Caucasian region – specifically Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan –  such as the silk trade. This source is useful in contributing a Russian understanding of the wars, as well as discussing the political and social effects on the disputed territories. The reliability of this source is increased with the consideration that the author has previously been an ambassador for one of the countries that were disputed during the Russo-Persian Wars, as well as having researched ethnography of the Caucasian region.

Mamedov, M. (2014). From Civilising Mission to Defensive Frontier: The Russian Empire's Changing Views of the Caucasus (1801-1864). In Russian History, vol. 41(2) (pp. 142-162).

This source is relevant to the “Fourth Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)”, “Fifth Russo-Persian War (1826-1828)” and “Post-war relations” sections of the article. It describes Russian relations with the Transcaucasian region, specifically their annexation of Georgia, their relationship with the Ottomans and the Armenians, and the effect these relations had on the Russo-Persian Wars and wider Caucasian politics. This source will be useful in developing a wider picture of trade relations and religious factors of the Russian interest in the Caucasus. The author of this source holds a PhD in history, focused specifically on the history of the Caucasus, and has had papers on the subject published internationally, increasing the reliability of this source.

Rashtiani, G. (2018). Iranian-Russian Relations in the Eighteenth Century. In M. Axworthy, Crisis, Collapse, Militarism and Civil War: The History and Historiography of 18th Century Iran. Oxford University Press.

This source will be used in the “Second Russo-Persian War (1722-1723)”, “Interbellum Treaties” and the “Third Russo-Persian War” sections of the article, as it gives context to the political and social factors governing Russo-Persian relations during the eighteenth century. It covers the trade relations between the two empires in the interbellum period, as well as the fall of Isfahan to the Afghans and the breakdown of the Safavid dynasty, both of which had impacts on Persian power and Russian dominance in the Caucasian region. It also discusses the Russian military strategies used to gain territory in the Caucasus and around the Caspian Sea. The author of this source holds a PhD in history and is currently an assistant professor at the University of Tehran, resulting in greater source reliability.

Matthee, R. (2013). Rudeness and Revilement: Russian-Iranian Relations in the Mid-Seventeenth Century. Iranian Studies, 333-357.

This article is relevant to the “Pre-war relations” and the “First Russo-Persian War (1651-1653)” sections of the Wikipedia article, as it provides insight into Russian and Persian diplomatic relations prior to and during the context of the First Russo-Persian War. It discusses events in both Russia and Persia, and the effect these events had on wider relations between the two empires, as well as the territories being disputed. It also discusses the direct impact that the death of Shah Abbas I had on Russo-Persian relations, providing greater context for the First Russo-Persian War. The author of this article is a professor of Middle Eastern History at the University of Delaware, and has published four books on the subject of Safavid Persian history, making this source both beneficial and reliable.