Artistic Achievements
This city, reconstructed into a “paradise” by Shah Abbas, featured great mosques, soaring arches, and formal squares.
What is Isfahan?
Early Safavid women had significant rights and could initiate this process.
What is divorce?
This city was the first capital of the Safavid dynasty.
What is Tabriz?
Shah Ismail made this the state religion to unite the Safavid Empire.
What is Shia Islam?
This major trade route passed through the northern part of the Safavid Empire.
What is the Silk Road?
These elaborate and brilliantly crafted items became a national industry in the Safavid Empire.
What is Persian carpet?
This group, consisting of ethnic Armenians, Georgians, and Indians, gained influence in the Safavid Empire.
What is the merchant class?
Shah Abbas created this type of officer-paid and well-trained army modeled on European systems.
What is a standing army?
Shia Islam was declared the state religion to counter the influence of this Sunni rival.
What is the Ottoman Empire?
The Safavids traded with these European companies, known for their global operations.
What are the English and Dutch East India Companies?
This form of art, featuring detailed illustrations of manuscripts such as the Shahnameh, flourished during the Safavid era.
What is manuscript illustration?
This warrior aristocracy helped Shah Ismail capture Tabriz but later lost influence under Shah Abbas.
Who are the Kizilbash?
This 15-year-old leader united the Safavids with the Kizilbash to establish the dynasty in 1501.
Who is Shah Ismail?
This Sufi order formed the foundation of the Safavid dynasty.
What is Safaviyeh?
Besides Persian rugs, these were a major Safavid export.
What are silks (or textiles)?
This elegant form of writing adorned verses of the Quran and the Shahnameh.
What is calligraphy?
After the death of this ruler, Safavid women lost many of their rights and societal influence.
Who is Shah Abbas the Great?
Shah Abbas drove this European power out of Bahrain in 1602 and the Persian Gulf by 1622.
Who are the Portuguese?
Religious leaders gained influence during this ruler’s efforts to unify Iran under Shia Islam.
Who is Shah Ismail?
Safavid imports included spices, metals, coffee, and this sweet substance.
What is sugar?
This epic was a major inspiration for Safavid manuscript illustrations and poetry.
What is the Shahnameh?
The Safavid social structure ranged from the king and nobility to this group, the lowest on the social ladder.
Who are peasants?
These two English brothers helped Shah Abbas reorganize the Safavid military.
Who are Robert and Anthony Sherley?
Safavid rulers used religious ideology to counter this major political and religious rival to the west.
What is the Ottoman Empire?
This labor system, used minimally in the Safavid Empire, primarily involved Georgian, Armenian, and North Caucasian recruits.
What is slavery?