Pdf firearms in safavid persia rudolph rudi matthee. Safavids were shiite muslims and the ottomans were sunni muslims. On his way to azerbaijan, he recruited followers, and had already recruited 450 at rasht and 1,500 at tarom. Compares the ideological, institutional, military, and economic contributors to each empire s success. Selim assembled a huge army more than 100,000 strongand. Selim the grim persecuted shiites and the battle of chaldiran happened, really hurting the safavid. Not until the safavid era did iran witness the rise of a state similar in importance to the ottoman empire or the empire. Safavid army military history oxford bibliographies. I know of one other book, the muslim empires of the ottomans, safavids, and. Shapour ghasemi after the disastrous invasion of mongols, in the 1200s, migrated turks and mongolian tribes adopted the persian customs and even language. The safavid empire was one of the major political and social formations in the early modern world, but has attracted relatively little attention from historians. The safavid empire key terms and people safavid member of a shia muslim group that built an empire in persia ismail safavid warrior who seized most of what is now iran shah persian title meaning king shah abbas leader during the safavid golden age esfahan capital city of the safavid empire before you read. When i was in high school, aka a long time ago, i was fascinated by his upbr.
The safavid empire 1500 the safavid a dynasty that united an empire in persia present day iran. In particular, the khamse nezami, became known as the finest book, written primarily by one of saffavids greatest calligraphers, shah mohammad nishabouri who was also known as zarin qalam golden pen because his splendid script. Rebirth of a persian empire library of middle east history by andrew j. The strongest ruler of the safavid dynasty was shah abbas i 15711629. The safavid empire key terms and people safavid member of a shia muslim group that built an empire in persia ismail safavid warrior who seized most of what is now iran shah persian title meaning king shah abbas leader during the safavid golden age esfahan capital city of the safavid empire.
The dynasty was founded in 1736 by the brilliant military commander nader shah, who deposed the last member of the safavid dynasty and proclaimed himself as of the shah of iran. Mughal empire lied on the lands of modern india, nepal, and bhutan. The safavid dynasty had its origin in the safavid order of sufism, which was established in the city of ardabil in the azerbaijan region. Safavid dynasty, ruling dynasty of iran from 1501 to 1736. The reorganization of the state and the ultimate elimination of the powerful qizilbash, a group that continued to threaten the authority of the throne, brought stability to the empire. Sep 07, 2009 in 1501, the safavid shahs declared independence when the ottomans outlawed shia islam in their territory. The many sections about the empire s eastern troubles are important because they include the middle period of the conflicts to the end of the safavid dynasty even. Sources on the ottoman and safavid wars history forum.
The many sections about the empire s eastern troubles are important because they include the middle period of the conflicts to the end of the safavid dynasty even the small border conflicts following the fall of the safavids. Safavid art is the art of the persian safavid dynasty from 1501 to 1722, in presentday iran and caucasia. Armenoiranian relations in the islamic period, army, bar. The safavid empire was one of the major political and social formations in the early modern world, but has attracted relatively little attention from historians, although this is changing. It was an iranian dynasty of kurdish ancestry but during their rule they intermarried with turkoman, georgian, circassian, and pontic greek dignitaries. The army itself ceased to be reliable and began to loot and plunder the empire s inhabitants. The greatest ruler of the safavid empire was shah abbas who came to power in 1587 abbas borrowed. This islamic empire was powerful enough to challenge the mughals in the east and the ottomans in the west. Mar 19, 2016 the mughalsafavid war of 16491653 was fought between the mughal and safavid empires in the territory of modern afghanistan.
It was in large measure due to his reforms that safavid forces were able finally to defeat the ottoman army in the early seventeenth century. Thanks in large part to their acquisition of muskets, the ottoman rulers were able to drive out the timurids and reestablish their. Jan 10, 2020 the ottoman empire was so huge that it occupied the parts of three continents. Email citation a fine study of the safavid phenomenon as a whole but of limited use for military historians. The roots of the safavid dynasty can be traced back to the safaviyeh, a 14th century sufi order founded in ardebil by a sunni dervish named sheikh safi aldin 125234 the safavieh converted to shiism at the turn of the 15th century and grew in popularity and strength as the years passed, due both to their attraction as puritanical mystics. It is the first book i have read that covered the entire islami empire excluding andolucia spain from 1200 till 20th century, comprising of the three greatest empires of the time, ottoman, iran safavid, and india mogul. Undoubtedly, the saffavid empire, particularly shah abbass reign left a rich and profound mark on iranian calligraphy, and in a broader sense, the art of the book. His reign was recognized as a period of military and political reform as well as of. Mainly recruited among georgian, armenian and north.
Expanded safavid empire to caucasus mountains, and brought christians under safavid rule. Silk trade in the safavid empire and the role of armenians in the empire. The safavid empire was strengthened by important shia soldiers from the ottoman army. A comprehensive overview of safavid history by one of the masters of the field. Safavid empire expansion and military organization. The mughalsafavid war of 16491653 was fought between the mughal and safavid empires in the territory of modern afghanistan.
The safavid empire 15011722 encyclop dia iranica safavid dynasty. The main rivals of the safavids were the ottomans to the west and the mughals to the east, but for about two centuries safavid armies held both. In this captivating history book, you will discover all about this. The mughals attempted unsuccessfully to regain the city. Its origins date back to 1500, when ismail decided to come out of hiding from lahijan, a city in gilan, northern iran. What were the achievements of the gunpowder empires. Three bodies of troops were formed, all trained and armed in the european manner and paid out of the royal. Iran under the safavids aims at providing the student and general reader, in nontechnical language, with a comprehensive history of the safavid dynasty.
Safavid empire history of world civilization ii lumen learning. May, 2015 when i first saw this, i thought this was a silly question, but then i started thinking, and the similarities are astonishing. Rebirth of a persian empire library of middle east history 9781845118303. The safavid dynasty was one of the most notable ruling dynasties of iran. The arts of the safavid period show a far more unitary development than in any other period of iranian art.
The interpretation of the safavid empire as a revival of an iranian. It was a high point for the art of the book and architecture. In the 0s, the ilkhanids, a dynasty founded by the genghis khans grandson, holagu khan, had been an influential factor in persia. Though their rule extended deep into persian territory, it represents from the point of view of the history of persia merely peripheral formations beyond or on the frontiers of iran. Shiite muslim dynasty that ruled persia between 16th and 18th centuries. The military of the safavid dynasty covers the military history of the safavid dynasty from 1501. Safavid slave soldiers usually indicated as golams are fully part of this political and military tradition. By the time of the establishment of the safavid empire, the members of the. Streusand creatively reexamines the military and political history and structures. The muslim empires of the ottomans, safavids, and mughals.
When i first saw this, i thought this was a silly question, but then i started thinking, and the similarities are astonishing. The safavid empire was spread through the territories of modern azerbaijan, armenia, and iran. A fine study of the safavid phenomenon as a whole but of limited use for military historians. This book provides a look at the history of the ottoman empire from 1603 to 1839. Used twelver shiism for political use, implying ismail was the hidden imam and spread his political power.
It was an iranian dynasty of kurdish origin but during their rule they intermarried with turkoman, georgian, circassian, and pontic greek dignitaries. Rebirth of a persian empire and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. The safavid empire was strengthened by important shia soldiers from the ottoman army who had fled from persecution. The longestlasting of the gunpowder empires, the ottoman empire in turkey was first established in 1299, but it fell to the conquering armies of timur the lame better known as tamerlane, 361405 in 1402. It was the first safavid king, ismail i 15011524, who laid foundation to the safavid military.
Safavid empire december 18, 20 the third period, which extends from the fifteenth well into the eighteenth century, is associated with the indian style of persian poetry sometimes called isfahani or safavi. In 1501, the safavid shahs declared independence when the ottomans outlawed shia islam in their territory. Most sources agree that the ottoman army was at least double the size of that of. Built a standing army, had a policy of inclusion, allowed christians and jews to serve in government. Dec 09, 2015 this feature is not available right now. The safavid empire was incredibly religious with its heavy employment of twelver shiism. Its founder was sheikh safi aldin 125234, after whom it is named sheikh safi, or safialdin abul fath ishaq ardabili, came from ardebil, a city in iranian azerbaijan where his shrine still exists. Jan 20, 2017 this book provides a look at the history of the ottoman empire from 1603 to 1839. Selim set about turning the attention of the ottoman empire from the west to the east by embarking on a campaign to overcome the threat posed to sunni islam by the shia islamic safavid persian empire, which had become a power in the region after the demise of the timurid empire. Their story has shaped what we know as modern iran more than any other period in its history.
The ottoman and safavid empires pottstown school district. The safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of iran from 1501 to 1736. The safavid period chapter 5 the cambridge history of iran. Under his weakwilled fathers reign, persia was riven with discord between the different factions of the qizilbash army a shiah militant group. The safavid dynasty had its origins in a long established sufi order which had flourished in azerbaijan since the early 14th century. One army of persians, other was a christian force recruited from the north and modeled after janissaries both for modern artillery. Sandwiched between the ottoman empire and the mughal empire they often engaged in warfare. Not until the safavid era did iran witness the rise of a state similar in importance to the ottoman empire or the empire of the egyptian mamluks. The art of the safavids before 1600 essay the metropolitan. Safavid empire december 18, 20 the third period, which extends from the fifteenth well into the eighteenth century, is associated with the indian style of persian poetry sometimes called isfahani or. Professor savory considers the origins of the safavid family, the course of the revolutionary movement which brought it to power and the problems facing shah ismail i after the.
The war began after a persian army, while the mughals were at war with the janid uzbeks, captured the fortress city of kandahar and other strategic cities that controlled the region. Safavid, mughal, and ottoman empires chapter 1 time in. Sunni muslim state 15261857 exercising dominion over most of india in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. I found this book very interesting and unique reading. Notes on the safavid empire northern virginia community. Safavid conquest did not imply a change in the form of administration. The ottoman empire and the uzbeks exploited this political chaos to seize small parts of iran.
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