During the reign of Shah 'Abbas I (1588-1629), the Safavid government adopted a local policy that made regions of rich production xasse, namely they were placed under the direct control of the central government. The royal treasury received all of the revenues from the xasse lands. Thus, this policy was conceived as one of general financial policies of the Safavids. Parts of the disrtrict of Gilan, south of the Caspean Sea, were appointed as xasse in 1597. Since then, they were retained under the administration of a vazir who was a civil officer dispached from the central government. Gilan was famous for its production of rice and raw silk, and one of the most affluent districts in the Safavid Iran. And the district that was not within Safavid's effective control till conquered by Shah 'Abbas I. Before that the influence of the local political power had been very strong. In the course of operation of the xasse policy in Gilan, Shah 'Abbas I thoroughly reduced its local military powers, and has taken various measures to make Gilan a district which would be major incomesupplier for royal treasury. Consequently the administration of vazir showed a tendency to concentrate on reinforcement of collecting taxes rather than activating local economy, and eventually brought oppression and extortion to local society. In addition to the fact that xasse policy had a structural defect that led to severe extortion of local population, destruction of the existing local ruling system bore various social contradictions in the Gilan society. Against this oppressive policy, local people of Gilan start a popular movement immediately after the death of Shah 'Abbas I, and showed offensive reaction to reject the Safavid rule. This movement was soon put down without any effect to the Safavid policy in Gilan. On the contrary, the central government further strengthened its policy toward it. This movement indicates the defects and cotradictions originated from the local policy of Shah 'Abbas I, which has been reputed as successful in modern historical researches. And this reaction of the Gilan people well reflects Shah 'Abbas I's reign and his policy from a different perspective.
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