1. Safavid Empire Julianna, Sammi, and Athena

2. Points to be Covered: Who established this Empire-where they were from and what facilitated its creation Where it was located- including how it changed over time When it existed What you should remember about it-religion, relations with neighbors and europeans How it rose and declined Why it was significant and not conquered by europeans during the age of exploration

3. Who? Established by the Safavids (a sufi order) originally a religious-nationalist group of shi’ism who transformed into a dual religious-military group through political marriages and the attraction of warlords They were originally from Persia facilitated independence from ottomans after they gained power and military aggression as well as when the ottomans outlawed shi’a islam (BBC)

4. Where? By 1510, Ismail (after being proclaimed shah at age 14 or 15) had conquered the whole of iran (BBC) & (google images)

5. When? 1502-1736 Shah- Isma’il assumed title of Shah of Azerbaijan after conquering Tabriz He then declared Independence from the Ottoman Empire Took control of Iran, Iraq, and parts of Turkey and expanded his Empire Safavid Decline began after Shah Abbas’s glorious reign ended ("Safavid Empire Aka Persia.")

6. What? Shi’ite Islam was the empire’s Religion (Safavid was a Theocracy) Safavid had enemies to the East and West: Mughals and Ottomans, respectively Period of Safavid Empire marked beginning of Persia ("Safavid Empire Aka Persia.") Commercial and diplomatic relations were sustained between SAfavid Empire and Europe ("Encyclopædia Iranica.")

7. How? “The Rise” Was a religious Brotherhood Brotherhood became stronger both in size and military Declared independence when The Ottomans outlawed Shi’a Islam Factors Location is an economic benefit Strong Military Other Islamic Religions suppressed Outlaw of their religion (BBC)

8. How? “The Fall” Empire became corrupt 1726 Afghan group divided Empire Powers Afghan Shahs-Most power Qur'anic law- Religious and Family Practices No Stability Factors Ottoman Empire decline Loss Of reason for unification Power went to Shi’a Ulama- 1st Islamic republic New theory- Qur'anic law (BBC) Khaju Bridge

9. Why? Significance-1st instance of spiritual vs. Political military power brought nomadic area to centralized government Great Cultural Influence - Art, poetry, etc. Economic power They were feared Had Strong central government Strong Military Strong economy (“SafAvid Empire aka Persia”) Shah Mosque

10. Flag Meaning Lion and Sun- 2 pillars of society Religion and political Green- Sacred Color Lion-Brave Sun-warmth & Life (“Our Purpose”)

11. Conclusion: In conclusion, the safavid empire was one of the most underrated empires in world history. It proved itself as one of the strongest military forces of its day being able to ravage jihad (muslim religious war) on enemies such as parts of modern day turkey and Georgia, gained its independence from one of the most powerful empires of its time- the Ottomans- and paved the way for a long lasting civilization for Shi’a muslims to live unified.

12. Questions: How did the safavid empire influence the other parts of the eastern world? what was the result of shi’a Islamic rule in the empire (longterm / shortterm)? Now it’s your turn: Do you have any questions for us??

13. Bibliography: "Encyclopædia Iranica." RSS. Web. 28 Feb. 2016..http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/safavids "Our Purpose." Flag of Iran. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. "Safavid Dynasty | Iranian Dynasty." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 28 Feb. 2016.. "Safavid Empire Aka Persia." Notes on the Safavid Empire. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2016. “Saf avid Empire (1501-1722).” BBC. BBC, 7 September 2009. Web. 27 February 2016.