the rule of the safavids

Tuesday October 1, 2013

The Rule of the Safavids

You have 7 minutes to complete the quiz…

7 minutes

EndPass in your sheets

Today’s ObjectiveStudents will be able to describe the key characteristics of the Safavid Empire by•Completing guided notes•Comparing and contrasting Ottoman and Safavid cultures•Examining examples of Safavid artwork

Ott

oman

s

Downfall of the Ottomans• Sultans became less involved with gov’t• Constant wars depleted the treasury•Western influence from Europe

Yes sultan, don’t worry, just leave it

to your Grand Vizier…

• Western delicacies like coffee and tobacco were outlawed to combat this

Safavids

The Safavid Dynasty• Esma’il united Turkish tribes and takes over much of modern day Iran and Iraq.•Called the “shah”

(king)•Ottomans fight against him but are unsuccessful•Unites newly conquered people under Shia Islam•Forced conversion•Killed / exiled Sunnis

Safavid: Glory and DeclineThe Glory:• Shah Abbas (ruled 1588 – 1629)• Administrators were trained to run the

kingdom• A large, technologically advanced

military• Tolerant towards Christians to gain

European support

The Decline:• Abbas’s successors allowed for Shia

orthodoxy (fundamentalist beliefs) to dominate •Role of women declines as their rights are limited•Continued conflict creates anarchy in the empire

Life Under the SafavidThe Shah:• Shia Islam was the official religion• Gov’t positions are filled on merit, not birth

The Safavid Culture:• Knowledge of

mathematics, science, and medicine

• Known for silk, carpets, and paintings

Their rugs really tie the room

together, man.

Ottoman Empire• Founded under

Osman Bey (1289 – 1923)

• Sunni Muslims but religiously tolerant

• Expanded under Mehmed II with the conquest of Constantinople

• Flourished under Suleyman the Magnificent

Safavid Empire• Founded under

Shah Esma’il (1501 – 1736)

• Shia Muslims and forced conversion

• Ruled in Persia (modern day Iran)

• Flourished under Shah Abbas