1. The Safavid Empire
Ch. 2 Sec. 2

2. Vocabulary
Safavid
Isma’il
Shah
Shah Abbas
Esfahan
Persians

3. The Safavid Empire Grows
Safavids
Originally were members of an Islamic religious brotherhood.
Brotherhood was founded by Safi al-Din
The land they lived on was between two Empires, so the Safavids built a huge army for protection.

4. Taking Over Present Day Iran
The Safavids continue to build their army until 1499.
In 1499, a twelve year old boy named Isma’il becomes leader of the military and uses the Safavid army to take over Persia, which the country of Iran today.
Isma’il has himself named shah, which means king.

5. Life under Isma’il
Unlike Ottoman rulers, Safavid rulers like Isma’il hated other religions.
Any citizen that did not convert “change” religion to Shi’ism was killed.
In a war with Ottomans, 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, these people practiced the same religion as Isma’il.

6. Shah Abbas
After the death of Isma’il, Shah Abbas “Abbas the Great” becomes ruler in 1587.
Shah Abbas starts the golden age “time of wealth”
Reforms:
Limited power of military
Created two loyal armies
Punished corruption in the government
Brought Christian worshippers into the empire so Europeans would move into the empire.

7. Shah Abbas and the Golden Age

8. Changes under Shah Abbas
Shah Abbas built a new capital called Esfahan.
Allowed different groups of artists, painters, and sculptors to help design and build the city.
Art Work:
Abbas allowed hundreds of Chinese artists to create paintings, glass windows, pottery, that decorate the churches in Esfahan.
Carpets:
Countries wanted carpets made in the Safavid Empire
With so many countries wanting carpets, this helped the Safavid Empire become friends with different countries.

9. Safavid Art
How are they similar?
How are they different?

10. Safavid Carpets

11. The Safavid Empire Falls apart…
Mistakes of Shah Abbas
Killed and blinded his oldest sons.
Chose his weak grandson Safi to be the next ruler.
Final Ruler
Nadir Shah Afshar becomes the final Safavid ruler in 1736.
He was so cruel that one of his soldiers assassinated him
After his death in 1747 the Safavid Empire collapsed.

12. Cultural Blending Turn to page 78 in your textbook.
Work with the person sitting next to you answer these three questions…
What is Cultural Blending?
Where does cultural blending occur?
What are cultures exposed to when they meet another culture?

13. Causes of Cultural Blending
Cause Number 1
Migration
People moving to different areas
or different countries.

14. Causes of Cultural Blending
Cause Number 2
Religious Freedom
Moving to a country where you
can practice your religion.

15. Causes of Cultural Blending
Cause Number 3
Trade
Buying or selling different things
to other people or countries.

16. Causes of Cultural Blending
Cause Number 4
Conquest
Taking over another country by
force.

17. Impact of Cultural Blending
Language: Languages are mixed together, or a cultures writing is mixed together.
Chinese language used in the country of Japan…

18. Impact of Cultural Blending
Religion: religions spread into different countries but change their ideas.
Buddhist monks believe in different things from Japanese Zen monks.

19. Impact of Cultural Blending
Government: government ideas spread into different countries but they are not the same.
American democracy lets people vote for leaders, Chinese democracy does not let people vote for leaders.

20. Impact of Cultural Blending
Race: different races come together through marriage.
Mestizo are people living in Mexico that have European and Mexican families.

21. Impact of Cultural Blending
Art and Architecture: styles of art and architecture are mixed together when building new buildings.
Builders of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. borrowed ideas from Greek buildings in Europe

22. Exit Ticket Answer the LEQ
“Why is cultural blending important for any group of people, or country today?”
This is your opinion, but explain your answer…