The Role of Christian Missionary Boards in the Emergence of Educational and Health Systems in Hamedan during the Qajar Era

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of History, Sayyed Jamaleddin Asadabadi University, Asadabad, Iran.

2 Associate Professor of History, Department of Islamic Studies, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran

10.22034/chs.2026.553491.1137
Abstract
The presence of Christian missionary boards in Iran expanded significantly during the Qajar period, with certain cities, including Hamadan, becoming key hubs for missionary activity. Beyond their proselytizing missions, these missionaries played a substantial role in establishing and developing educational and medical institutions. Their activities—primarily through the founding of schools and healthcare centers—represent a significant facet of the emergence of modern educational and medical infrastructure in Iran during this era. The present study aims to investigate the process of formation and expansion of missionary-affiliated educational and healthcare centers in Hamadan, analyzing their role and impact on the local community from the Qajar period to the early Pahlavi era. Employing a descriptive-analytical method based on library research and historical documents, including missionary reports and related scholarly sources, this research examines the educational and medical initiatives of these boards. The findings indicate that by establishing schools, hospitals, and clinics, Christian missions played an effective role in disseminating modern education and healthcare services in Hamadan. These activities were particularly well-received among religious minorities. Furthermore, while driven by evangelical objectives, these initiatives were instrumental in addressing the educational and medical needs of the local population and contributing to the institutionalization of modern education and medicine in Hamadan.

Keywords



Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 October 2026

  • Receive Date 15 October 2025
  • Revise Date 31 July 2026
  • Accept Date 18 October 2026
  • Publish Date 18 October 2026