Which statement is true about the Qajar dynasty's capital?

• A. They moved the capital to Tehran.
• B. They took over in 1794 and ended in 1925.
• C. They established a republic.
• D. They dispersed power to local tribes.

Answer: (A)

Moving the capital shows how a state uses location to symbolize and enforce centralized authority. For the Qajar dynasty, establishing Tehran as the capital in the late 18th century centralized government, brought the seat of power closer to the northern frontiers, trading routes, and the core of political control. This shift helped unify the realm after a period of fragmentation and set Tehran as Iran’s political center for generations.

The dynasty indeed ruled from the late 1700s until 1925, and they did not establish a republic; they remained a monarchy. They also pursued centralization rather than dispersing power to local tribes, building a centralized bureaucracy and military to maintain control.