Social Studies: Unit 2 The Rule of the Safavids Grade 9
What did trade enable the Safavid Empire to create socially?
At its height Safavid Persia was a worthy successor to the great Persian empires of the past
What areas of art was the most popular under the Safavid control of Persia?
Carpet weaving flourished , stimulated by the great demand for Persian carpets in the West
Who were the leaders of the Safavid dynasty ?
Founded (ancestor) by Shah Ismail whose religion was Shiite
What issues did religion cause between Shah Ismail and Sultan Selim I?
Ismail sent Shiite preachers to convert members of Turkish tribes in the Ottoman Empire and ordered the massacre of Sunni Muslims when he conquered Bagdad; The Selim tried to halt this activity;
What areas of art flourished under the Safavid control of Persia?
Metalwork, elaborate tiles, delicate glass vessels, silk weaving, Persian painting
Why was trade so important to Safavid Empire?
Not able to produce everything
What is the impact of religious orthodoxy on women?
Persian women who were used to many freedoms were now forced into seclusion and required to adopt the wearing of a veil
What significant events surrounded Shah Ishmail?
Religious leader who founded the Safavid dynasty; converted Iran from the Sunni to the Shiite sect of Islam
What significant events surrounded Shah Hussain?
Remnants of ruling class (Safavid) retreated to original homeland; Persia sank into a long period of political and social anarchy
What is a shah?
Ruler of the Safavid Empire
How did the Safavid Shah's stay connected to their subjects?
Rulers were available to subjects; ate and drank with subjects; carved their own physical features on drinking cups so people in the empire would know them
What were the three main causes of decline of the Safavid dynasty?
Safavids could not hold all their territorial gains agains the Ottoman armies (signed peace treaty), most of Abbas successors lacked his talent and political skills, the power of Shiite religious elements began to increase at court and Safavid society at large
What area was the main focus of control for the Safavids?
Safavids tried to consolidate their rule throughout Persia and in areas to the west
What was the religious difference between the Safavids and their Islamic neighbors?
Safavids were Shiites and Islamic neighbors were Sunni Muslims
Which Shah led the Safavids into their glory years?
Shah Abbas who ruled from 1588 to 1629
What was the social structure of the Safavid dynasty?
Shah at top, bureaucracy and landed classes were in the middle , common people at bottom (pyramid)
How did Shahs establish increased control and work to eliminate competition?
Shah's seized the large land estates of the aristocrats and brought them into the Crown; appointed senior positions in bureaucracy was based on merit rather than birth; hired foreigners from neighboring countries for positions in his government
Why did the Safavid Shah's stay connected to their subjects?
So the rulers would seem familiar to their subjects
What significant events surrounded Shah Abbas?
Strengthened Safavid dynasty; expelled Ottoman and Uzbek troops from Persian soil; promoted commerce and the arts; Persian artistic achievement reached highest point
What role did the Europeans play in leading the Safavids into regaining territory?
Supplied Safavids with weapons because they viewed them as allies against their chief enemy the Ottoman Turks
Which Shah had to relinquish territory back to the Ottomans?
The Safavid Shah Abbas
Why did Shah relinquish territory back to the Ottomans?
The Safavid Shah Abbas was forced to sigh a peace treaty after the Ottomans took control of the Caspian Sea
How did religion help the Safavids to conquer these areas?
The Safavids used the Shiite faith as a unifying force; The shah (Isliam) claimed himself to be the spiritual leader of all Islam
What allowed the Safivid dynasty to take control?
The collapse of the Timur Lenk which fell into anarchy
What was the effect of the Safavid decline on Persia?
The remnants of the Safavid ruling family were forced to retreat to their original homeland; Turks took advantage and seized territories along the western border; Persia sank into a long period of political and social anarchy
What is religious orthodoxy?
Traditional religious beliefs
What is anarchy?
absence of government
What is orthodoxy?
authorized or generally accepted theory, doctrine, or practice
