Word List Timeline Transoxania Timurids shaykh (Sufi master) Safi al-Din (1252-1334) mid 14th century: Collapse of the Ilkhanate. Safavids build support among Qizilbash (“redheads”). 1499 Safavid Isma‘il attacks local Turkish rulers. 1501 Isma‘il takes Tabriz. 1501-24 Reign of Isma‘il.

Map Link: The Safavid Empire: <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/ Map_Safavid_persia.png>

Word List Timeline Ottomans Özbegs (Uzbeks) janissaries wakil (deputy) shah 1510 Safavids have taken eastern Asia Minor, Iraq and western Persia. Defeats Özbegs in battle. 1512-13 Safavids defeat Özbegs again, secures eastern border. 1514 Ottomans defeat Safavids at Chaldiran, briefly occupy Tabriz.

Timeline 1524-76 Reign of Tahmasp. 1533 Tahmasp takes de facto power. 1534, 1548, 1554-55 Ottoman invasions of Safavid territory. Peace finally made, Iraq (including Baghdad) left in Ottoman hands. Safavids keep Tabriz, but Tahmasp moves capital to Qazvin.

Timeline 1587 Murshid Quli Khan raises ‘Abbas to throne. 1587-1629 Reign of ‘Abbas. 1598 ‘Abbas transfers capital to Isfahan. 1603-23 Safavids push Ottomans out of north-west Persia, Baghdad and south-east Asia Minor.

Timeline 1629-42 Reign of Safi. 1642-66 Reign of ‘Abbas II. 1645 ‘Abbas II takes de facto power. 1648 Safavids take Qandahar from Mughals. 1666-94 Reign of Safi II/Sulayman.

Timeline 1694-1722 Reign of Sultan Husayn. 1722 Mahmud of Qandahar takes Isfahan. Sultan Husayn abdicates. Mahmud becomes new ruler of Isfahan, effectively bringing Safavid rule to an end.

Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet Axonometric reconstruction of Maidan-i Shah (begun 1598) and the surrounding buildings. (A) Pavilion of the ‘Ali Qapu (Gate of ‘Ali, 1597-1660) originally monumental gateway to royal palaces. (F) Maidan. View southeast with the Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah to the left, ‘Ali Qapu to the right, and the Masjid-i Shah ahead. (A) ‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. View of ceiling and cut out plaster in Music Room. (A) ‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. Detail view of cut-out plaster in Music Room. (A - 2 slides) ‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. Interior view of wooden latticed windows. (A)

Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet ‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. Detail view of wooden latticework. (A) Masjid Shaykh Lutfallah, Isfahan. 1603-19. Dome (1616). (F) View of Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah (1603-19), with ‘pink’ evening. (F) Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah. View of the entrance. (A) Various views of the maidan. (A) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Aerial view. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. View of main entrance gate. (F)

Object List Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Detail inside entryway. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Detail of north side of court with northeast iwan. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Northwest iwan. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Southeast iwan. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. View of southwest (qibla) iwan and entrance gate. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Dome, showing a good example of tile work. (F) F = Ferret, A = Archnet

Object List Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Dome. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Interior. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Detail of interior. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Interior wall elevation. Elaborate polychrome tile. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Detail of southern prayer hall. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Dome in front of mihrab. (F) Madrasa-i Shah (bt. 1706). Reconstructed view of courtyard. (F) F = Ferret, A = Archnet

Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet Madrasa-i Shah (bt. 1706). Entrance portal. (F) The nightmare of Zahhak from Tahmasp Shahnama, 1525-35. (F) Mystery object! Tabriz, c. 1540. (F) Book binding. Tabriz, c. 1540. Lacquer on leather. Inner sides. 40 x 25cm. (F - 2 slides) Young man in a blue coat. Riza. Isfahan, c. 1587. Ink and colour on paper. 13 x 7cm. (F)

Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet Picnickers. c. 1647. Chihil Sutun. Isfahan. (F) Tahmasp receiving Humayun. 1660s. Isfahan at the Chihil Sutun. (F) Mir Afzal Tuni Album painting of a lady watching a dog drink from a bowl. Iran, c. 1640. Illuminated manuscript. (F) Riza-i ‘Abbasi: The Lovers. 1630. (Metropolitan Museum of Art: <http://metmuseum.org/>.) Mu‘in: Portrait of the painter Riza-i ‘Abbasi. Produced in Isfahan, Iran, 1673. Watercolour on paper. Riza’s most gifted pupil shows the master at work. (F)

Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet Hajji Muhammad: Pen Box with a Europeanizing Landscape. Late 17th– early 18th c. (Metropolitan Museum of Art: <http://metmuseum.org/>.) Ardabil carpet. Iran. 1539/40. Wool pile on silk warps. 10.51 x 5.35m. (F) Iranian Kashan Medallion carpet. 16th c. wool, silk and silver thread. 2.48 x 1.99m. (F) Fritware dish. Carved slip. Kirman. 17th c. (F) Lustre-painted spouted jar. Iran, 17th c. (F) Imitation blue-and-white bowl. Iran, possibly Mashhad, 17th c. (Metropolitan Museum of Art: <http://metmuseum.org/>.)