The pink shows where the Safavid Empire was located. (known as Iran

today)

SAFAVID EMPIRE• The Ottoman Empire was the rival of the Safavid empire.

• The 2 Empires held bloody battles over Mesopotamia

• Safavid-> loyal to the Shiite traditions

• Ottomans-> loyal to the Sunni traditions

Safavid flag

Shah Abbas fighting in the battles over control of Mesopotamia.

• Abbas the great ruled from 1587-1629, under his rule the Safavid Empire was at it’s peak.

• The former shahs of Safavid despised non-shiites• Abbas welcomed non-shiites to his court.• European rulers wanted to make alliance with

the Safavid empire over the Ottomans• The English helped Abbas by training an army to

use muskets and taught Iranians how to make cannons.

• Abbas encouraged trade and commerce.

Shah Abbas and his court

• Abbas built a network of roads that had inns and rest stops for travelers.

• To take advantage of the growing demand for Chinese porcelain in Europe he brought hundreds of Chinese potters to the capital Isfanan.

• Under Abbas’s rule Iranians produced fine quality goods like silk, woolen carpets, steal, porcelain and glass wear.

• After Abbas the Empire declined• 1736 the last of the Safavid’s were

over thrown• Today the area survives as a major

shiite state, Islamic republic of Iran.