Which of the following is true about the Qajar era's capital relocation?

• A. They built a capital in Shiraz.
• B. They moved the capital to Tehran.
• C. They kept the capital in Qazvin.
• D. They moved to Mashhad.

Answer: (B)

The move to Tehran shows how the Qajar rulers centralized power by relocating the capital. They chose Tehran for its central location on the northern plateau, which made it easier to project authority across the realm and defend the seat of government. Establishing the capital there also allowed the rulers to build a new administrative center with palaces and institutions that reinforced their control, turning Tehran into the enduring political hub of Iran. Shiraz, while historically important, was not the Qajar capital. Qazvin had served as a regional seat earlier, but the Qajars shifted away from it. Mashhad was not chosen as the capital either.