 Take out Section 1 homework.  Quiz on Section 1 today.

Section 2: The Rule of the Safavids

 1. Describe the Safavid Dynasty.  2. Contrast/Compare Safavid with Ottoman Dynasty.

 Major Shiite group, very different from Sunni Ottomans  Founded by Shah Ismail  Major center of power- Azerbaijan, near Caspian Sea

 Ismail invades Iran, Iraq  Established as shah (king) of new Persian state.  Attempted to convert Sunnis to Shiites  What group might this lead to conflict with?

 Ottoman Turks vs. Safavid Dynasty  Selim vs. Ismail  Tabriz – major conflict between them  Peace Treaty signed in 1580s after many years of fighting  Isfahan- new capital of Safavids

 Shah Ismail vs. Selim I

 Shah Abbas (Safavids) – peak of Safavid society (1600s)  Abbas- attacks Ottomans with European allies  Some success, but could not hold their new territories for long.  After Shah Abbas, Safavids begin to decline

 Shah Abbas

 Orthodoxy vs. Religious Freedom  Orthodoxy forces women to wear veils, etc.  Shah Hussein- invaded by Afghans, Turks  Persia- sinks into anarchy (no government, lawlessness)  What are some modern examples of anarchy?

 Safavids- ethnically mixed society.  Turkish and Persian elements of society  Political system- very similar to Ottomans  Shah (king), Bureaucracy, landed people, commoners in a pyramid system

 Shiites- Shah Ismail descends from Muhammad.  Shia Islam (Shiites) – State religion  Available to their subjects  Seized land from aristocracy  Bureaucracy – merit based.

 Poor road system  Horse and Ox drove trading carts  Trade was difficult, Ottomans restricted Safavid trade with Europe.

 Isfahan- capital built by Shah Abbas.  All ornately decorated buildings surrounded a gigantic polo ground for sport.  Riza-i-Abbasi- famous Safavid artist  Paintings were simple, with soft colors and flowing movement.

 Section 2 Assessment (page 471, skip #3)