Transcript Safavid Power Point

The Safavid Empire Ottomans
Safavids
The Safavid
Empire
Shah Ismail I
• Shah (king of kings) Ismail founded the Safavid Empire solidifying a base
of power in Persia by the early 1500’s.
• He declared Shiite Islam as the Empires official religion forcing Sunni
Muslims to convert.
• He declared the city of Tabriz in the western part of the empire his capitol.
• The shah sent Shiite preachers into Asia Minor to encourage rebelion
among the Shiite citizens of the Ottoman empire. This would caused a
rivalry and tensions within the middle east.
Shiite and Sunni Islam
• Fundamentally Sunnis and Shiites
share the same basic tenants of the
Islamic faith.
• After the death of the prophet
Muhammad the question of who
should take his place as the main
spiritual leader arose.
• Shiites believe that only people
who are descendants of Muhammad
can be the caliph (“commanders of
the faith”, the political successors
of Muhammad).
• Sunnis believe that caliphs should
be elected from those most capable
of the important job.
• The Shiites make up about 10%15% of all Muslims. They comprise
97%-98% of Iran’s population.
The five Pillars of Islam.
1. “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger”.
2. Prayer 5 times a day.
3. Giving to the poor (2.5% of income).
4. Fasting during Ramadan.
5. A pilgrimage to Mecca.
Hajj
Sawm
Zakat
Salah
Shahadah
Five
Pillars of Islam
Which country holds
the largest population
of Muslims by
population?
Indonesia
Shah Abbas I
Abbas I was the greatest of the
Safavid Shahs reigning over the
height of the empire.
• After a series of military reforms
(which included modeling the Safavid
army after European armies) Abbas
retook much of the territories lost to
the Uzbeks and the Ottomans.
• Abbas moved the capitol to Isfahan
closer to the center of the empire.
• He encouraged foreign trade
exporting rich fabrics and ceramics
to Europe.
Conflicts With Neighbors
• The span of the Safavid Empire is marked by constant border fighting between the Sunni
Ottomans to the west and the Sunni Uzbeks to the northeast.
• Shah Abbas I retook most of the land lost to the two neighbors during his reign with the help of
English military advisors who reformed the Safavid army.
• Abbas’ reign marked the highest point of the Safavid empire as it began to decline after his death
with growing pressures from neighbors including the Mughal empire.
Isfahan
“Half of the
World”
• Once one of the largest cities in
the world Isfahan is home to some
of the most stunning Iranian
architecture and art.
• Its central location in Iran made
it a crossroad for important trade
and travel routes.
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