Explanation of the scientific and educational record of Ali Qoli Mirza Eteza al-Saltanah; Minister of Science during the reign of Nasser al-Din Shah (1274-1298 AH)

Iranian reformist political figures in the Qajar period, after becoming familiar with the scientific advances of Western civilization, made great efforts to modernize Iran and compensate for the country's backwardness in various scientific, cultural, economic, political, social and military aspects. Prince Aligholi Mirza Etezad al-Saltanah was one of these reformers, who served as the first Minister of Science and Head of the Dar al-Fonun School (1274-1298 AH). During the era of Nasser al-Din Shah, he did a lot of work for the scientific and educational transformation and modernization of Iran. The present article, using the descriptive-analytical method and the method of collecting data from the documentary-library type, seeks to answer the main question: what measures did Etezad al-Saltanah take for the scientific and educational modernization of Iran and what role did his performance in this field play in the scientific and educational developments and advancements of the country? The results of this study show that, with the belief and awareness that the first cornerstone and the main basis and foundation of Iran's development and progress is the transformation and advancement of the country's scientific and educational status through the acquisition and transfer of new European sciences and technologies and related institutions, he took measures such as sending students to Europe, publishing newspapers, developing translation and printing houses, reforming the educational system, establishing new disciplines in the country's scientific centers, writing and translating books, and setting up institutions, industries, and equipment related to new scientific and educational issues. A study of Iran's scientific developments during that period shows that these royal initiatives were very influential in the country's scientific and educational transformation, progress, and modernization, and played a role in laying the groundwork for new structural changes in Iranian society in later periods (the Constitutional Revolution).