1. III. Safavid Empire (suh-FAH-vihd)

2. C. Safavid rulers were called shahs, using the Persian title for king
A. Unlike the Ottomans who were Sunni Muslims, the Safavids believed in Shi’a Islam & strictly converted the people they conquered
The Safavid Empire
41a - describe the geographical extent of the Ottoman Empire during the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent, the Safavid Empire during the reign of Shah Abbas I, and the Mughal Empire during the reigns of Babur and Akbar
41b - explain the ways in which these Muslim empires influenced religion, law and the arts in their parts of the world
B. The Safavids were Turks living in Persia who built a powerful gunpowder army & created an empire in modern-day Iran
C. Safavid rulers were called shahs, using the Persian title for king

3. 1. The greatest ruler of the Safavid Empire was Shah Abbas who came to power in 1587
a. Abbas borrowed ideas from outside groups to improve the Safavid Empire
b. He modeled Ottoman janissaries, used merit to employ gov’t workers, & introduced religious toleration which helped Safavids trade with European Christians
c. Art flourished, especially carpets that blended Persian & European designs

4. D. The Decline of the Safavid Empire
1. Like the Ottomans, Shah Abbas blinded or killed his most capable sons in order to keep power
a. As a result, weak leaders led to a rapid decline of the Safavid Empire
In finding a successor, Shah Abbas made the same mistake the Ottoman monarch Suleyman made. He killed or blinded his ablest sons. His incompetent grandson, Safi, succeeded Abbas. This pampered young prince led the Safavids down the same road to decline that the Ottomans had taken, only more quickly.
In 1736, however, Nadir Shah Afshar conquered land all the way to India and created an expanded empire. But Nadir Shah was so cruel that one of his own troops assassinated him. With Nadir Shah’s death in 1747, the Safavid Empire fell apart.
2. While the Ottoman Empire lasted until 1922, the Safavid Empire fell in 1747

5. Safavid Video