The Role of Translations in Developing Critical Discourse and Awareness Crisis in Qajar Era

Giving up traditional thoughts on the one hand, and the advent of modernist tendencies in Qajar society on the other hand, was the result of a kind of critical self-consciousness which happened after various and numerous social-political crises. Ever-increasing translations of political, social and economical texts in Qajar era resulted in the development of social awareness.
In the present article, in addition to classifying critical discourses in that era and presenting facts, it’s been indicated that most designers of such discourses were involved in translating texts, and with these translations they made it obvious for the people that the existing political system was ineffective, and also encouraged the wish for a change in situation.
 In this research, the factors which encouraged writers and translators in Qajar era to translate history books and its effects  on attracting and bringing together researchers and the readers in this field has been studied. The results showed that the wars between Iran and Russia initiated the first translations of history texts. Establishment of Dar- al- Fonoun (house of science), Dar-al-Tarjama (Translation House), orientology tendency, and archeology discoveries in Iran helped the translation of history texts and focusing on this kind of translation to reach to its highest point so far. Furthermore, translation of history books resulted in changing the method of historiography, taking into consideration the history of ancient Iran, and introducing revolutionary thoughts to Iranians.