The Safavid Empire

Safavid The Safavid Empire went from Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea east to India; along the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea north to the southern border of Russia.

The Beginnings of the Safavid Empire The Safavid were created under the leadership Safi al-Din. ( ) Safi al-Din is to the Safavids what Osman was to the Ottomans; he unified various Turkish ethnic groups from Azerbaijan and neighboring countries near the Caspian Sea. He also converted Safavids from Sufism to Shi’ism. Ism ā ʿ ī l becomes the first shah of the Safavids in Under Ism ā ʿ ī l, the Safavid dynasty was created. They took control of much of Iran and Iraq.

Background on Ism ā ʿ ī l According to Safavid tradition, Ism ā ʿ ī l was descended from the Safi al-Din. His father, leader of a Sh ī ʿ ite warrior group known as the Qizilbash (“Red Heads”) died in battle against the Sunnis when Ism ā ʿ ī l was only a year old. Fearful that the Sunnis, the majority sect, would wipe out the entire family, Sh ī ʿ ite supporters kept family members hidden for a number of years. Ism ā ʿ ī l emerged at the age of 14 to take his father’s position as head of the Qizilbash.

Safavid Ottoman Conflict Ism ā ʿ ī l sent preachers to different areas to convert members of the Ottoman Empire to Shi’ism. These efforts led to conflict between the two empires. The conflict between the two led to targeting of Sunni Muslims when Safavids took control of Baghdad & Shia’s within the Ottoman empire. Ismail lost a major battle at Tabriz to Suleiman over religious differences.

Qizilbash The Safavids military branch First organized by Ism ā ʿ ī l’s father Heydar. Called qizilbash meaning “red heads” or “red hats” because of their hats worn. Their skilled military of over 70,000 helped them to quickly expand the Safavid empire. Later would gain immense influence and were able to impact courts and even depose Shahs

The Battle of Chaldiran In 1514 the Ottomans invaded northwest Iran. Ism ā ʿ ī l rushed from Central Asia to oppose the threat to his capital at Tabr ī z. In a hard-fought battle, Selim (son of Suleiman) and a force of 120,000 troops defeated Ism ā ʿ ī l and his army of 70,000.army Ism ā ʿ ī l was wounded and nearly captured as he tried to rally the Qizilbash. The Ottomans then took Tabr ī z without opposition. Rebellion within the Janissary corps, however, forced Selim to withdraw, giving Ism ā ʿ ī l time to recover his strength.

Safavid Shah Abbas, who ruled from 1588 to 1629, brought the Safavids to their highest point of glory. He took the throne from his father and imprisoned him. He later killed the man who helped him get the throne. He also killed or blinded all his children fearful of treason. He attacked the Ottoman Turks, with European help – they saw the Safavids as allies – to regain lost lands from the Ottomans. The Safavids could not keep all territorial gains, but a treaty was signed in 1612 returning Azerbaijan to the Safavids.

Safavid Isfahan was the jewel of the Safavid Empire, and it is still that for modern-day Iran. Silk weaving flourished, but carpet weaving flourished more – Persian rugs are still prized today.

Safavid Decline In 1598 Shah Abbas moved the capital to Isfahan. Later under Shah Hussein, in 1722 control of Isfahan was taken by Afghan peoples. Persia sank into a period of anarchy – lawlessness and disorder.