The Safavid Empire
Safavid
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The Safavid Empire went from
Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea
east to India; along the Persian
Gulf and Arabian Sea north to the
southern border of Russia.
The Beginnings of the Safavid Empire
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The Safavid Dynasty started with Safi alDin. (1252-1334)
Safi al-Din is to the Safavids what Osman
was to the Ottomans; he unified various
Turkish ethnic groups from Azerbaijan
and neighboring countries near the
Caspian Sea. He also converted Safavids
from Sufism to Shi’ism.
Ismāʿīl becomes the first shah of the
Safavids in 1501.
Under Ismāʿīl , the Safavid dynasty was
created. They took control of much of
Iran and Iraq.
Background on Ismāʿīl
According to Safavid tradition, Ismāʿīl was
descended from the Safi al-Din.
 His father, leader of a Shīʿite warrior group
known as the Kizilbash (“Red Heads”) died in
battle against the Sunnis when Ismāʿīl was only a
year old.
 Fearful that the Sunnis, the majority sect, would
wipe out the entire family, Shīʿite supporters
kept family members hidden for a number of
years.
 Ismāʿīl emerged at the age of 14 to take his
father’s position as head of the Kizilbash.
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Safavid Ottoman Conflict
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Ismāʿīl sent preachers to different
areas to convert members of the
Ottoman Empire to Shi’ism.
These efforts led to conflict between
the two empires.
The conflict between the two led to
targeting of Sunni Muslims when
Safavids took control of Baghdad &
Shia’s within the Ottoman empire.
Ismail lost a major battle at Tabriz to
Suleiman over religious differences.
Qizilbash
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The Safavids military branch
First organized by Ismāʿīl’s father
Heydar.
Called qizilbash meaning “red
heads” or “red hats” because of
their hats worn.
Their skilled military of over
70,000 helped them to quickly
expand the Safavid empire.
Later would gain immense
influence and were able to impact
courts and even depose Shahs
The Battle of Chaldiran
In 1514 the Ottomans invaded northwest
Iran. Ismāʿīl rushed from Central Asia to
oppose the threat to his capital at Tabrīz.
 In a hard-fought battle, Selim (son of
Suleiman) and a force of 120,000 troops
defeated Ismāʿīl and his army of 70,000.
 Ismāʿīl was wounded and nearly captured
as he tried to rally the Qizilbash. The
Ottomans then took Tabrīz without
opposition.
 Rebellion within the Janissary corps,
however, forced Selim to withdraw, giving
Ismāʿīl time to recover his strength.
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Safavid
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Shah Abbas, who ruled from 1588 to
1629, brought the Safavids to their
highest point of glory.
He took the throne from his father and
imprisoned him. He later killed the man
who helped him get the throne. He also
killed or blinded all his children fearful
of treason.
He attacked the Ottoman Turks, with
European help – they saw the Safavids as
allies – to regain lost lands from the
Ottomans.
The Safavids could not keep all
territorial gains, but a treaty was signed
in 1612 returning Azerbaijan to the
Safavids.
Safavid
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Isfahan was the jewel of the
Safavid Empire, and it is still that
for modern-day Iran.
Silk weaving flourished, but carpet
weaving flourished more –
Persian rugs are still prized today.
Safavid Decline
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In 1598 Shah Abbas moved the capital
to Isfahan.
Later under Shah Hussein, in 1722
control of Isfahan was taken by
Afghan peoples.
Persia sank into a period of anarchy –
lawlessness and disorder.