Role of Kia’ids in Reconstructing the Economic, Social, and Political Conditions of Eastern Regions of Gilan

The Kia’ids were a powerful dynasty that ruled a part of Gilan known as Biya-pish from 8th to 10th centuries (AH). They continued their rule independently from the Central Safavid government for about two and a half centuries. Very little research has been conducted on the economic status of Kar-Kia or Kia’id period, and there are only some scattered descriptions in this regard in historical texts and travelogues. The main purpose of this study is to study and explain the role of Gilan’s silk in the internal commercial economy and the economic and political changes of the local Kia’id government. The findings of the study indicate that one of the factors affecting the economic growth and prosperity of the Kia’ids was the historical geography of Gilan. As an economic and strategic product, silk was of great importance in the Kia’id period, and Gilan played an undeniable role in attracting European markets and trade centers because of producing massive amounts of high quality silk. While describing and explaining the social conditions of that time and analyzing its economic elements, the present study investigates the factors which were effective in the economic growth of the local Kia’id government in Gilan and the economic crises after the disintegration of this dynasty.