Willem Floor studied development economics and non-western sociology, as well as Persian, Arabic and Islamology from 1963-67 at the University of Utrecht (the Netherlands). He received his doctoral degree from the University of Leiden in 1971. Since 1983, Dr. Floor has been employed by the World Bank as an energy specialist. Throughout this time, he has published extensively on the socio-economic history of Iran. His most recent books include: Public Health in Qajar Iran, Agriculture in Qajar Iran, and The History of Theater in Iran. His forthcoming book published by Mage is The Persian Gulf: A Political and Economic History of 5 Port Cities, 1500-1730