Era 2, 1450 - 1750 CE: The Rise of the Safavids
Twelver Shiism
-A belief that there were 12 infallible imam (religious leaders) after Muhammad and the 12th went into hiding and would return to take power and spread the true religion. -This was the major religion promoted by the Safavid Empire
Shi'a Islam
-As Islam started to develop, it started to split into two major groups -The second major group was called the ______________ Muslims; they believed that the only people qualified to lead Islam were the direct descendants of Muhammed's son-in-law, Ali -The Safavids were Shi'a Muslims -They hated and fought against the Ottomans and the Mughals, who were Sunni Muslims (the other side) -There are lots of tension between these two groups!
Safavid Governing Style and Bureaucracy
-During Era 2, 1450-1750 CE, the Land Based Empires and Maritime empires had various techniques and political styles they used to govern their empires -The Safavids, along with the other Islamic Empires, the Mughals and the Ottomans, used many of the same ruling techniques as the Mongols before them. -The first thing they did was use a strong military to conquer and enforce their policies -They also relied heavily on a class of BUREAUCRATS, or trained scholars who were government officials, that would run the government on a daily basis. They would collect taxes, run government offices, run the courts, etc. -The Shah or Emperor had absolute, total authority. Their success and respect was based on how strong they were militarily, and how respected they were with regard to his devotion to Islam. They were also judged on how much they spread Islam -In order to make themselves more popular, to leave a legacy behind, and to make their rule seem more legitimate, many Safavid rulers promoted the arts and sponsored beautiful architecture projects. This made them seem more powerful, increased their popularity, and made their rule seem justified.
Tabriz
-First capital city of the Safavid Empire, in modern day Iran, in the Middle East; established as Capital City by Shah Ismail -Described by Marco Polo as "a great city surrounded by beautiful and pleasant gardens," known for its beauty and culture -Huge trade center one of the Western ends of the Silk Roads; would have silk, spices, porcelain, diamonds coming from Asia; wool, olive oil, wines, exotic animals, ivory, and more coming from Europe and Africa -Temporarily taken over by the Sunni Ottomans after they defeated the Shi'ite Safavids at the Battle of Chaldiran -Shah Abbas the Great later established the capital at Isfahan, so it lost its status as capital of the Safavid Empire
Shah Ismail (r. 1501-1524)
-Founder of Safavid Empire in 1501, ruled until 1524; started a rebellion at age 14 and led his Persian army to great victories to establish the Safavid Empire -made Twelver Shiism the official religion of the empire and imposed it upon his Sunni subjects -Founded the beautiful cultural center of Tabriz and established it as his first capital city -his most devoted followers became known as the "Qizilbash," or the "red heads," for the red hats they wore as a sign they followed him; they were fanatically loyal to Ismail and believed he could make them invincible -Hade a huge rivalry with the Sunni Ottoman Empire, and lost the Battle of Chaldiran to the Sunni Ottomans, as he and his followers refused to embrace gunpowder technology, believing it was "unmanly"; however, the empire survived the defeat and would last more than 200 years
The Safavid Empire 1501 - 1736 CE
-Land-based empire in the Middle East, present day Iran, Era 2, 1450 - 1750 CE -Founded by Shah Ishmail -Islamic Empire. There are two types of Islam--Sunni and Shiite. The Safavids were a Shiite Islamic Empire -The specific branch of Islam they followed was called Twelver Shiism, named after the 12 most important Imams (religious leaders) that came after the Prophet Muhammad -They had a very serious and intense rivalry with the neighboring Ottomans, who were Sunni Muslim. They lost a huge battle to them at the Battle of Chaldiran -Their most famous and powerful leader was Shah Abbas the Great, who restored their power after the defeat at Chaldiran, expanded the empire, encouraged more trade, and modernized the military
Isfahan
-The "Crown Jewel" of the Safavid Empire, Shah Abbas the great moved the capital here, so Tabriz was no longer the capital -Shah Abbas was determined to make this into the "Queen of the Persian Cities." He Made it into one of the most precious jewels of urban architecture in Eurasia -There were magnificent palaces, beautiful mosques, shaded avenues, and magnificent bridges that made this city stunning and beautiful -Building this beautiful city made Shah Abbas more popular and made his rule seem more justified and legitimate -Abbas also made it a vibrant, energetic center for trade! He extended trading privileges to the Europeans, bringing Armenian Christians to_____________________ in order help with the Silk Trade, and allowing the British East India Company and Dutch East India Company (VOC) to establish trade there; as a result, trade flourished in this city
Mughal - Safavid War 1649 - 1653 CE
-The Mughals were a powerful empire in India, they Sunni Muslim, and they fought a major war against the Safavids, who were Shiite Muslim -This war was fought in modern day Afghanistan -While the Mughals were distracted fighting someone else, the Safavids seized the opportunity and took one of the Mughal cities/fortresses in Afghanistan, named Kandahar -When the Mughals realized what happened, they fought a war to attempt to regain the city and the territory they had lost. -The Safavids had revitalized (rebuilt) their military and modernized with guns, so the Mughals were unable to gain the territory back -As a result the Shiite Safavids emerged victorious from the conflict, and the Sunni Mughals were defeated
Decline of the Safavids
-The Safavids began to decline in the 1600's and 1700's -one factor was poor leadership and rulers, as rulers spent vast amount of money on personal pleasures and leisures rather than the affairs of the state -There was also fighting within the dynasties, as "ghilman" slave soldiers had rebellions and there was also religious tensions and fighting in the empire that led to its downfall -Shiite leaders pressured the Safavids to become less religiously tolerant and to persecute Sunni, non-Muslims, and even the Sufi Mystics that had helped establish the dynasty -The Safavids, along with the other two Islamic empires, the Mughals in India and the Ottomans in the MIddle East, were also Culturally Conservative. This meant they felt they had little to learn from other cultures, including the Europeans. So they fell behind the pace of the European militaries and lost out on many European technologies. -By 1736 they complete collapsed due to pressure from numerous outside invaders and the Safavid Dynasty was over
Cultural Conservatism in the Islamic Empires
-The Safavids, along with the other two Islamic empires, the Mughals in India and the Ottomans in the MIddle East, were also Culturally Conservative. This meant they felt they had little to learn from other cultures, including the Europeans. So they fell behind the pace of the European militaries and lost out on many European technologies. -This attitude was similar to East Asia, where they also felt they had little to learn from other cultures -It was rare the Muslims would venture to Europe as they felt they had little to learn there, so they missed out on inventions such as the Printing Press as well.
Safavid Trade
-The Safavids, and especially Shah Abbas the Great, were determined to participate in trade in a big way -Shah Abbas extended trading privileges to the Europeans, bringing Armenian Christians to the capital of Isfahan in order help with the Silk Trade, and allowing the British East India Company and Dutch East India Company (VOC) to establish trade there; as a result, trade flourished in this city -In exchange for trading privileges, the European companies gave the Safavids gunpowder and helped them bring down the Portuguese in the Persian Gulf -They also helped them defeat their arch-nemeses, the Sunni Ottomans -The major product the Safavids focused on producing was silk; they brought the Armenian Christians in to help with Silk Production, and then sold it to the Europeans for the silver and gold that was coming in from the Americas
Ottoman-Safavid Conflict 1500's
-There was a neighboring Islamic empire that the Shiite Safavids constantly fought with and battled with -This empire was a Sunni Islamic Empire, the mighty Ottoman Empire in the Middle East/North Africa -These two empires fought numerous times, with the Ottomans using Gunpowder to great effect and winning a huge battle at the Battle of Chaldiran -The Safavids recovered from the battle kept fighting the Ottomans for over a hundred more years
Qizilbash
-These were Shi'ite Safavid soldiers who were fanatically loyal to Shah Ismail and the Safavid Empire -They were called the ______________________________ because of the distinctive red hats they wore; the hats had 12-piece red hats they wore; the 12 pieces referred to the 12 Imams of Twelver Shiism -They were a militant bunch that helped Shah Ismail conquer vast amounts of territory and start the Safavid Empire -They suffered a major defeat to the Sunni Ottomans at the Battle of Chaldiran. Believing gunpowder to be "unmanly," and convinced that Shah Ismail could make them invincible, they charged the Ottomans who had guns, and were severely defeated -The ______________________________ would recover from that defeat and return to glory under the rule of Shah Abbas the Great
Battle of Chaldiran 1514
-This was a massive battle between the Ottomans and the Safavids -The Ottoman Janissaries were armed with gunpowder and firearms; they hid behind a wooden barrier of carts -The Safavids believed that firearms were "unmanly" so they didn't use them; they bravely charged at the Ottoman Janissaries -The Safavids were slaughtered and the Ottomans won the day; this was a huge triumph for gunpowder and modern weaponry
Ghilman
-This was similar to the "Devshirme" process in the Ottoman Empire -The Safavids would conquer people that were non-Muslim -Many of the young boys and men would be made into slaves for the empire. These slaves would then be turned into full-time soldiers or bureaucrats (people trained to run the government) -Shah Abbas used this system to great effect and the __________________ were trained with gunpowder and became his most effective soldiers, helping him to defeat the Ottomans and the Portuguese in battle -They became more important than the Qizilbash in the army -Even though they were slave soldiers, they became a powerful group and they could become "king-makers," meaning that if you got them on your side, they could help you seize power
Shah Abbas the Great (1588-1629)
-This was the most powerful and famous Safavid ruler, who ruled the Safavids at the peak of their power -After the Battle of Chaldiran, the Safavids started to decline. Shah Abbas brought them back to greatness -He increased the use of Gunpowder into his military and allied with European powers to defeat the Ottomans and kick the Portuguese out of the Persian Gulf. With his newly strengthened forces, he led the Safavids to numerous victories, expanding the size of the Safavid Empire -He also moved the capital city to Isfahan, and made it into a beautiful "jewel" city of the Middle East, while also transforming it into a center for trade with East Asia, South Asia, Europe, and Africa. In particular -He tolerated non-Muslims in the empire to some extent, bringing Armenian Christians to Isfahan to help with the Silk Trade, and allowing the British East India Company and Dutch East India Company (VOC) to establish trade at Isfahan
Women in Politics and Mahd-e Olya
-the major three Islamic Empires, the Safavids, the Ottomans in the Middle East, and the Mughals in India, carried on many of the traditions of the Mongols with regard to the involvement of women -Technically, according to Islam, women had no traditional role in politics. They weren't allowed to rule or hold office -However, following the example of Genghis Khan, they gave special privileges to their mother and "first wife;" these women could influence rulers on policy and help make critical decisions -In Safavid Persia Mahd-e Olya was a famous wife of a Shah who basically was the ruler of the empire because she was so influential over her husband. -Unfortunately her efforts to limit the power of the Qizilbash so enraged them that they murdered her. -The aunt of another Shah was so annoyed at the ruler that she used her own money to raise an army and put down a revolt herself
Era 2 Land- Based Empires, 1450 CE - 1750
During Era 2 1450- 1750 CE, there were several important Land-Based Empires. These empires did not include overseas colonies, unlike the "Maritime" empires that the Europeans had that included territory overseas The Land Based Empires you are required to know for Era 2, 1450 CE - 1750 CE: -The Manchu Qing Empire in China -The Ottoman Empire in the Middle East/North Africa/Southern Europe -The Safavid Empire in the Middle East -The Mughal Empire in South Asia (India) -These empires all had different techniques of conquering, governing, and taxing, all of which will be covered in Quizlet and you need to know like the back of your hand!
