The Safavid DynastyTrevor Jurkowski, Sabrina La Torre, Jess Toribio

WhoThe Safavid Dynasty began with Shah Isma’il I.

Prior to his coming Iran was a place of many states and communities, all ruled by different people.

He began his campaign at the age of 13 in 1500. By 1509, he had unified all of Iran.

He was the leader of the Kizilbash, a militant group of turkish horsemen that wore red caps.

WhereAzerbaijan

Saudi Arabia

Pakistan

Pretty Much Iran

Where

When The Safavid Empire lasted from Isma’il capturing Tabriz in 1501 to the death of

the last Safavid ruler in 1736, totaling 235 years.

Ismail I 1501–1524Tahmasp I 1524–1576Ismail II 1576–1578Mohammed Khodabanda 1578–1587Abbas I 1587–1629Safi 1629–1642Abbas II 1642–1666Suleiman I 1666–1694Sultan Hoseyn I 1694–1722Tahmasp II 1722–1732Abbas III 1732–1736

WhatThe biggest impact of the Safavid Dynasty was its conversion to Shi’ite Islam.

This led to conflicts throughout the existence of the Empire. The neighboring Ottomans and Uzbeks were Sunni, which led in part to the many wars between the three nations.

Ottoman Empire

Uzbeks

WhatThe Safavids, to gang up on the Ottomans, allied with many European

countries.

How

• The Dynasty was established early by Shah Isma’il in the 16th century. Afterwards it just lost territory.

• Isma’il was so successful in conquering the area because of his family heritage in the Kizilbash.

How

• The length of the Dynasty’s existence was really just a long decline.

• The main reason for its decline were the constant threats from the Ottomans and Uzbeks.

• It was also brought down by the corrupt Safavid family and internal struggles within the Empire.

Why

• The Safavid Dynasty was significant in its part of the world for a few reasons:

• It converted the Iran and the surrounding area to Shi’ite Islam, which has political implications to this day.

• It essentially established Iran as a nation.

Why

• It was not conquered like the Americas for two reasons:

• The Ottomans had a huge empire that separated the Safavids from Eastern Europe.

• The Safavids, to counter the Ottomans’ strength, allied with Europeans.

Works Cited• “Iranian Identity” Encyclopaedia Iranica. Encyclopaedia Iranica. 15 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 March

•2014.

•“Isma’il I.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. 10 March 2014.

•“Safavid Dynasty” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Web. 10 March 2014.

•“Safavid Empire.” BBC. BBC. 7 Sept. 2009. Web. 10 March 2014.

•Stokes, James. Peoples of Africa and the Middle East. New York City: Infobase, 2009. Print.