1. The Safavid Empire of Iran

2. How would Christianity be different if:
Jesus married Mary and had children who had living descendants today?

3. What do these men have in common?
Khomeini
Sayid Ali
Muhammad Asif
Bahjat
Khameini

4. Safavid empire after Safaviya
Sufi order – what is Sufism
Shia Islam vs. Sunni
What is the “Hidden Imam” in Shia Islam?

5. What observations can you make about the location, resources, and orientation of the Safavid Empire?

6. Geography of Safavid Empire
Almost entirely in modern Iran & Iraq
East of Ottomans – oriented to East
Capital of Isfahan land-locked (compare to Constantinople)
Silk Road connection
Trade in Gulf of Hormuz (Indian Ocean Network), but no maritime territory

8. Political Form of State
Ruler as stand-in for “Hidden Imam” - Shah
Influence of religious leaders (continues today) descendent from Muhammad (Ayatollahs)
Very high taxes to pay for military
Ayatollah Khomeini

9. Military Originally mounted Turkic warriors
After establishing empire created elite gunpowder core of slaves
Border conflicts with Ottoman and Moghul empires
Invasions from Afghanistan, e.g. Nadir Shah
Totally land-based – no navy

10. Economy
Marginal maritime trade – capital located inland – trade with BEIC
Overland trade with Russia
A beeyootiful Persian Carpet

11. Religion Enforced Shia Islam violently
Mullahs given state support, supervised
Education in madrasas supervised by state
Resulted in Iran & parts of Iraq being Shia

12. Architecture - Isfahan
Built fantastic capital city at Isfahan
Used Persian style Islamic architecture, e.g. blue tiles and ornate design
Smaller but more elaborate than Ottoman architecture