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The Safavid Empire

The Safavid Empire. Basics. Today known as Iran – then Persia Unique identity – not Arab Language - Farsi Surrounded by empires on both sides. In the beginning…. Descended from Safi-od Din – 1252-1334 Leader of a Sufi religious order in NW Persia.

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The Safavid Empire

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  1. The Safavid Empire

  2. Basics • Today known as Iran – then Persia • Unique identity – not Arab • Language - Farsi • Surrounded by empires on both sides

  3. In the beginning… • Descended from Safi-od Din – 1252-1334 • Leader of a Sufi religious order in NW Persia. • Tomb and shrine of Safi became home of Esmail’s family • Sa fa vid

  4. Esmail/Isma’il • Age 14 – entered at the head of an army to claim the title of Shah- King of Kings • 1500’s Esmail head of the kizilbash • By 1501 – controlled Iran and Iraq • Ruled until 1524- many considered him a saint • When he became shah he forced Persians to convert to Shiia. – Twelver Shiism • Controlled all accounts of his rise to power

  5. Twelver Shiism • 12 Imams after Muhammad beginning with Ali • 12th Imam had gone into hiding around 874 to escape persecution • 12ers believe that he was still alive and would return to take power and spread the religion.

  6. Kizilbash – military group known for their red hats Esmail’s father instructed his followers to wear a distinctive red hat with 12 pleats in memory of the 12 imams Also a theory that Esmail was a hidden Imam- Divine? Kizilbash believed that Esmail would make them invincible in battle- super loyal Sunni Ottomans became the enemy

  7. Battle of Chaldiran -1514 • Ottomans deployed heavy artillery and thousands of Janissaries equipped w/firearms behind a barrier of carts • Safavids would not use gunpowder b/c they saw the new technology as unreliable and unmanly. • Ottomans inflicted devastating casualties on the Safavids but lacked resources to destroy them.

  8. Later… • Esmail secluded himself and drank – a lot. • Empire became unstable • Tahmasp took over • Later rulers relied more on Persian bureaucracy than emperors. • Abandoned extreme ideology that associated emperor with Allah • Kizilbash no longer loyal to shah

  9. Shah Abbas the Great – 1587- 1629 • Reformed military – slave soldiers and administration • Increased use of gunpowder • Got help from infidel Europeans • Standing army of 40,000 • 1598 – control of N. Persian by beating Uzbeks • Got back territory that the Safavids had lost

  10. Abbas continued • 1599 moved capital to Esfahan – a planned city • Manufacturing and foreign trade • Carpet weaving, tiles and silks • Died in 1629 • Paranoid that another member of the family would challenge – kept sons confined to palace – killed or blinded relatives he suspected

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