Safavid iran safavid iran rebirth of a persian empire andrew j. Many beautiful palaces were built and iranian art flourished. In the 0s, a dynasty founded by a grandson of genghis khan, hulagu, ruled in iran. Safavid dynasty definition of safavid dynasty by the. This state covered east of turkey, azerbaijan, armenia, georgia, some parts of iraq and even nothern india. Savory, a doyen of safavid studies in the 1960s and 1970s, was responsible.
Safavid iran, with its fresh insights and new research, is the definitive single volume work on the subject. Isfahan was the capital of safavid persia after baghdad fell to the turks in. They were the first dynasty to announce shiism as the official religion of the state. Safavid dynasty is famous for its support for art, shia school of thought and shia scholars since they introduced shia school of thought as the official religion. There is an enormous amount of valuable material here and very wide and impressive reading. Safavid dynasty simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sent preachers into the ottoman empire to convert people shah ismail massacred sunni muslims used shiite beliefs as a unifying force early intellectual freedom gave way to pressure to conform culturally. Safavid dynasty, ruling dynasty of iran from 1501 to 1736, known especially for its architectural achievements and its establishment of twelver shiism among various ethnic and linguistic groups throughout iran as a major unifying factor. The safavid empire dates from the rule of shah ismail ruled 15011524. Members of the safavid dynasty likely were of kurdish persian descent and belonged to a unique order of sufi infused shia islam called safaviyya.
Bureaucracy and class in safavid iran grigoriadis, theocharis n. In 1501, the safavid shahs declared independence when the ottomans outlawed shi a islam in their territory. It wavered between christianity and islam and chose islam. In fact, it was the founder of the safavid empire, shah ismail i, who forcibly converted iran from sunni to shia islam and established shiism as the state religion. The safavid empire a virtual tour a shia empire originally the safavids were members of a islamic religious brotherhood sufi safavids claimed to be descendants of the prophet muhammad aligned themselves with the shia branch of islam religious persecution leads to war the. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted. Dedicated to the renowned safavid historian roger savory, this book brings together a collection of studies on the safavid state of iran 15011722 from the perspectives of political, social, literary, and artistic history. The safavids witnessed wideranging developments in politics, warfare, science, philosophy, religion, art and architecture. The safavid empire a virtual tour a shi a empire originally the safavids were members of a islamic religious brotherhood sufi safavids claimed to be descendants of the prophet muhammad aligned themselves with the shi a branch of islam religious persecution leads to war the.
S afavid the safavid dynasty ruled persia from 1501 until 1736. May 15, 2020 safavid dynasty, ruling dynasty of iran from 1501 to 1736, known especially for its architectural achievements and its establishment of twelver shiism among various ethnic and linguistic groups throughout iran as a major unifying factor. Rebirth of a persian empire library of middle east history 9781845118303. The story of the safavids begins with shaykh safialdin d. In 1501, the safavid shahs declared independence when the ottomans outlawed shia islam in their territory. The safavid empire was powerful as long as its shahanshahsemperors were able leaders like abbas the great. The ottoman safavid war of 16231639 was the last of a series of conflicts fought between the ottoman empire and safavid persia, then the two major powers of western asia, over control of mesopotamia. Persian capital from the 16th to 18th centuries under the safavid empire. In his essay, satrapy fishing in yemen, published yesterday in the washington times, may argues that the latest middle east flareup in yemen is part of iran s master plan to resurrect. During that long period, the attitude of successive muslim governments had been one of toleranceindifferencecontempt, punctuated from time to time by outbursts of religious severity which rarely escalated to the point of actual persecution. Map showing the extent of the first persian empire thursday, 2 april 2015 the first persian empire is wellknown to students of the bible. Written by brian schrauger thursday, april 2, 2015.
The safavids witnessed wideranging developments in politics, warfare, science, philosophy, religion, art and. The most illustrious ruler of the safavid empire, he moved the imperial capital to isfahan in 1598, where he erected many palaces, mosques, and public buildings. The safavid dynasty, arguably the most wellknown islamic dynasty of iran, is often credited with a cultural and political revival of the country, essentially ushering in the premodern period of iranian history and ending the middle or mediaeval period. The concepts of fardalkifyah and zakh reveal its commitment to protect the poor from the arbitrariness of the rich and treat the state as an. Bureaucracy and class in safavid iran compromising islam with empire. Rebirth of a persian empire library of middle east history by newman, andrew j. The safavids, who came to power in 1501, were leaders of a militant sufi order. In the 0s, the ilkhanids, a dynasty founded by the genghis khans grandson, holagu khan, had been an influential factor in persia. Safavid dynasty simple english wikipedia, the free.
Shapour ghasemi after the disastrous invasion of mongols, in the 1200s, migrated turks and mongolian tribes adopted the persian customs and even language. They traced their ancestry to shaykh safi ad din died circa 34, the founder of their order, who claimed descent from shia islams seventh imam, musa al kazim. However, this, by no means, requires that they were running an idea. History, shared heritage and culture, continuing contacts and connections, especially intimate with the safa vids, all indicate that the mughals should be viewed in the same context as their muslim contemporaries, yet geography places the mughal empire outside our pur view. May, president of the foundation for defense of democracies, says that todays iran is attempting to rebuild nothing less than the persian empire. This outfit consists of three robes, trousers, underwear, head coverings, jewelry and makeup. Rebirth of a persian empire, ib tauris march 30, 2006. Safavid empire is a persian empire, also it is considered shi a.
My next project is a safavid persian womans outfit based on this picture at left of a princess from 1541. The safavid era is of special significance in the history of iran. Under the safavids between the sixteenth and the mideighteenth century iran was transformed and a state emerged which was the forerunner of the iran of today in several important ways. Religion and culture ardent shiites hereditary, not elected ruler sent preachers into the ottoman empire to convert people shah ismail massacred sunni muslims used shiite beliefs as a unifying force early intellectual freedom gave way to pressure to conform culturally. They were a mix of azeri and kurdish people, and were shia muslims. It also ensured the dominance of the twelver sect within shiism over the zaidiyyah and sects of ismailism each of whom had previously experienced their own eras of dominance. The safavid period 15011722 is often viewed as the golden era in iran s history, following the demise of the sasanian empire a thousand years earlier. In fact it represented a vital break with past iranian history. The period of the safavids, the dynasty that took control of persia in the early 16th century, is often considered the beginning of modern persian history, just as the state they created is said to mark the genesis of the persian nationstate.
The safavid dynasty had its origin in the safavid order of sufism, which was established in the city of ardabil in the azerbaijan region. What were the points of strength and weakness of the. Safavid iranrebirth of a persian empire request pdf. The safavid empire also had a renaissance of iranian culture. Safavid iran, with its fresh insights and new research, is the definitive. Culturally, the safavid state is most associated with shiism, the second largest branch of islam, and. Safavid empire is a persian empire, also it is considered shia. From their base in ardabil, the safavids established control over all of persia and. The safavid dynasty was the greatest iranian empire after the arab conquest, ruled iran for about 200 years 15021722 and was named after a branch of islam religion safavieh that was founded by sheikh safi aldin in ardabil. After initial persian success in recapturing baghdad and most of modern iraq, having lost it for 90 years, the war became a stalemate as the persians were unable to press further into the.
Its founder, king cyrus the great, is lauded as the ruler god used to return the jewish. Apr 12, 2011 the safavid era is of special significance in the history of iran. The concepts of fardalkifyah and zakh reveal its commitment to protect the poor from the arbitrariness of the rich and treat the state as an institution that maximises. Newmans study aims to provide a new and uptodate overview on the stateofart of safavid studies, reflecting the results of the extensive research that have been achieved since the iranian revolution.
But how did this dynasty manage to produce the longest lasting and most glorious of irans islamicperiod eras. During these times, iran had mongol and turkish immigrants who adopted the persian language and persian customs. Persian nationalist historians work hard to claim this state as persian, which is completely wrong and silly. Safavid conversion of iran from sunnism to shiism a. The safavid period 15011722 is often viewed as the golden era in ira. It has been now more than a quarter of a century since the publication of roger savorys iran under the safavids cambridge, 1980. Silk textiles from safavid iran, 15011722 essay the. When the safavids came to power at the turn of the sixteenth century, the iranian textile industry was already well developed in the production and sale of woven silk textiles and rugs as well as raw silk for export. They united the successor states of the arab empire into a persian state and introduced shiism as the state religion, either because of the preponderance of shia islam in persian territory or to counter the sunni islam of their rivals, the ottoman empire. Iran architects and military experts from ottoman lands. The safavid dynasty had its origin in the safawiyyah which was established in the city of ardabil in the azerbaijan region of iran. Safavid empire which included persia was created and ruled by azeriturkic. Safavid iran or safavid persia also referred to as the safavid empire, was one of the greatest.
In the late th century, shaykh safi aldin ishaq founded a sufi order at. Safavid iran indicates that the establishment of islam as irans state religion facilitated the empires administrative modernisation, economic development and class. The story of shah ismail safavi, who founded the safavid empire itself. The safavid conversion of iran to shia islam was a process that took place roughly over the 16th through 18th centuries and turned iran, which previously had a sunni majority, into the spiritual bastion of shia islam. In 1585 two events occurred that would combine to break the impasse among the qizilbash. Safavid persia is known for its wealth of cultural contributions to the history of iran and to the arts of the islamic world. But how did this dynasty manage to produce the longest lasting and most glorious of iran s islamicperiod eras.
Through their actions, the safavids reunified iran as an independent state in 1501 and established twelver shiism as the official. Members of the safavid dynasty likely were of kurdish persian descent and belonged to a unique order of sufi infused shi a islam called safaviyya. Safavid textiles are praised as the pinnacle of iranian loom weaving. The safavid conversion of iran from sunnism to shiism made iran the spiritual bastion of shia islam against the onslaughts of orthodox sunni islam, and the repository of persian cultural traditions and selfawareness of iranianhood, acting as a bridge to modern iran. Charles melville, reader in persian history, university of cambridge. Jan 06, 2011 from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the safavid conversion of iran from sunnism to shiism made iran the spiritual bastion of shia islam against the onslaughts of orthodox sunni islam, and the repository of persian cultural traditions and selfawareness of iranianhood, acting as a bridge to modern iran. Rebirth of a persian empire, london and new york, 2006. It was an iranian dynasty of kurdish origin 3 but during their rule they intermarried with turkoman, 4 georgian, 5 circassian, 6 7 and pontic greek 8 dignitaries. The dynasty began as a sufi order but evolved into a major gunpowder empire. Safavid shift to militant shiism, and second, the forcible conversion of iran to messianic twelver shism, enabling them to form a stable polity in the region. The safavid period 15011722 is often viewed as the golden era in irans history, following the demise of the sasanian empire a thousand years earlier.
Greater irannamely the regions of iran, the persian gulf, the southern. Abbas, the safavid empire became less stable and more. The safavids made the greatest turkish empire since the muslim conquest of persia. Religion and power in the safavid empire lon don and new york. Politics, religion and graecoarabic philosophy in safavid iran. The army itself ceased to be reliable and began to loot and plunder the empires inhabitants. The safavid dynasty, a golden age in iran, witnessed a cultural flowering under the charismatic ismail and and his son tahmasp, the first two shahs of the dynasty. Wealth and power for respect divorce wasnt a difficult process arabic and persian languages are similar women. The army itself ceased to be reliable and began to loot and plunder the empire s inhabitants. This essay is a short history of the safavid dynasty.
Newman the safavid dynasty, which reigned from the late fifteenth to the eighteenth century, links medieval with modern iran. Newman, reader in islamic studies and persian andrew j newman bloomsbury academic, mar 31, 2006 history 281 pages. Originating from a mystical order at the turn of the 14th century, the safavids ruled persia from 1501 to 1722. After adopting gunpowder weaponry, few countries could challenge the safavid empire at its zenith. Sep 07, 2009 the safavid empire dates from the rule of shah ismail ruled 15011524. His father had been forced to abdicate and much of his empire was on the brink of disintegration. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Muslim rule in iran at beginning of safavid empire was almost 8 centuries long. Safavid 1491 1722 the seventhcentury arabmuslim conquest of iran was followed by conquests by the seljuk turks, the mongols, and tamerlane. Request pdf on apr 1, 2009, amidu olalekan sanni and others published safavid iranrebirth of a persian empire find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. In fact, it was the founder of the safavid empire, shah ismail i, who forcibly converted iran from sunni to shi a islam and established shiism as the state religion. A belief that there were 12 infallible imam religious leaders after muhammad and the 12th went into hiding and would return to take power and spread the true religion. Safavid dynasty synonyms, safavid dynasty pronunciation, safavid dynasty translation, english dictionary definition of safavid dynasty. Many people assume that 16th century persian and 16th century turkish womens clothing is the same except for their headcoverings.
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