World historyLesson 1 of 1 in the course The Islamic World

Safavid Iran: Empire, Shi‘ism, Statecraft, and Cultural Legacy

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

This lesson explains how a Sufi religious order became a powerful empire based in Iran. It follows the Safavid family’s rise, the creation of its military forces, and the challenges it faced from the Ottomans and Uzbeks.

The Safavids began as the hereditary leaders of a Sufi order based in Ardabil, in northwestern Iran. The order was founded in the thirteenth century by the Sufi master Zahed Gilani. His son-in-law and disciple, Safi al-Din Ardabili, succeeded him and renamed the order the Safaviyya. Under Safi al-Din, the order attracted followers from across Iran and neighboring regions.

All flashcards

Safaviyya
The Sufi order based in Ardabil, renamed by Safi al-Din Ardabili and later transformed into a political movement.
Qizilbash
A military organization developed by Haydar; its fighters wore distinctive red hats.
Ismail I
The Safavid leader who entered Tabriz and declared himself shah of Iran in 1501.
Peace of Amasya
The 1555 Safavid-Ottoman agreement that divided Armenia and Georgia and confirmed Safavid control of Azerbaijan.
Nader Afshar
The military leader who deposed Abbas III in 1736 and founded the Afsharid dynasty.

Quiz questions

  1. What do Twelver Shia Muslims believe about religious leadership?Answer: Twelve divinely chosen imams guide the community, and the hidden twelfth imam will return.
  2. What religious policy did Ismail I establish in 1501?Answer: He made Twelver Shi‘ism the state religion.
  3. Which city became the Safavid capital after Abbas I moved the court in 1598?Answer: Isfahan.
  4. What was Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Safavid Isfahan?Answer: A public space framed by markets, administrative buildings, a royal pavilion, and a mosque.
  5. What event ended the Safavid dynasty in 1736?Answer: Nader Afshar deposed Abbas III and took the throne.

Based on World History Volume 2, from 1400 by Ann Kordas, Ryan J. Lynch, Brooke Nelson, Julie Tatlock (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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