1. Interactive Notebook Setup
2/13/2018 Safavid Empire This will be one page

2. Safavid Rise and Politics Conversion of Iran to Shi’a Islam
Safavid Ottoman Conflict
Methods of Establishing Shi’a Islam

3. Safavid Rise and Politics
Filled power vacuum left by descendants of the Mongols in Persia, Mesopotamia, and Eastern Anatolia
Founded by Shi’ite Muslims and Sufi brotherhoods
Ismail, a leader from a prominent Sufi family, conquered most of these areas in the late 15th century
1501–1736

4. Safavid Rise and Politics
Leaders converted to Shi’a Islam and established it as the state religion
Created a full theocracy
Adopted aspects of traditional Persian Culture and government
Ismail wrote the following poem:
Prostrate thyself! (Bow down)
Pander not to Satan Adam has put on new clothes,
God has come.

5. Safavid Rise and Politics
Safavid rulers were called Shahs
A Shah was an absolute ruler of the Safavid Empire
Like the Ottomans the Safavid expanded their conquest through the use of muskets, cannons, and cavalry
Also like the Ottomans military leaders were given grants of land in exchange for their service, requiring expansion

6. Conversion of Iran to Shi’a Islam
Goals:
Unify people under state controlled religion
Create separate identify from Sunni Ottomans
Gain control of established educational and religious institutions

7. Methods of Establishing Shi’a Islam
Shahs built mosques and appointed prayer leaders in each village to secure Shia beliefs in empire
Most famous known as the Shah Mosque
Supported Shi’a scholars and schools, whose used influence to legitimize power of the state
Persecuted Sunnis and destroyed their mosques

9. Safavid ottoman conflict
Sunni(Ottoman)-Shia(Safavid) divide in Islam that emerged in the previous time period grew more intense and permanent in this era
Ottomans and Safavid both claimed to be true protectors and leaders of Islam
Both also used this conflict to unify their citizens and justify military expansion and government power

11. Safavid ottoman conflict
Both carried out extreme acts of violence
For Example:
Isma’il destroyed the entire Sunni religious population in the city of Baghdad
By killing all the Sunnis in Baghdad, Isma’il caused the Ottoman ruler, Selim the Grim, to order the execution of all Shiites in the Ottoman Empire
Both suffered economically and politically as a result of this almost 300 year conflict

12. Safavid ottoman conflict
Ottomans won Battle of Chaldiran in essentially containing Shi’a Islam to Iran
Introduced gunpowder to Safavid
Basically drawing the modern borders between Iran and Iraq

13. Safavid ottoman conflict
Occasional fighting lasted until 1639
Both sides weakened by the drawn out conflict
Overall Ottoman victory ensured the Sunni Islam would remain the more widely practiced interpretation of Islam