Three Models of Trade Frontier Management in the Sasanian Empire (Case Studies of the Reigns of Bahram I, Yazdegerd I, and Bahram V (Gor))

This article employs historical-comparative analysis to examine the strategic evolution of Sasanian frontier trade management across three distinct ruling periods (۳rd to ۵th centuries CE). The findings reveal that the Sasanian approach was not static but underwent a gradual, experience-based learning process. The first phase, under Bahram I, was characterized by a pattern of missed opportunity and passive reactivity. A deficient understanding of economic geopolitics led to the loss of a potential ally (Palmyra) and significant regional destabilization. In the second phase, Yazdegerd I, recognizing this imperative, embarked on a path of institutionalization. Through the treaty of ۴۰۸/۴۰۹ CE, he successfully transformed the frontier from a mere military line into a shared economic institution. Finally, in the third phase, Bahram V adopted a multi-faceted strategy, simultaneously reinforcing the established institutional framework in the west while pursuing strategic diversification through the opening of new maritime routes in the east. This evolutionary trajectory illustrates the progressive maturation of Sasanian strategic thinking and underscores the pivotal role of economic considerations in shaping their frontier policy.

کلیدواژه ها:

Sasanian Empire ، Bahram I ، Yazdegerd I ، Bahram V ، Frontier Management ، Political Economy ، Commercial Diplomacy ، Strategic Evolution