1. Word List
Timeline
Transoxania
Timurids
shaykh (Sufi
master)
Safi al-Din
( )
mid 14th century: Collapse
of the Ilkhanate. Safavids build
support among Qizilbash
(“redheads”).
1499 Safavid Isma‘il attacks local
Turkish rulers.
1501 Isma‘il takes Tabriz.
Reign of Isma‘il.

2. Map Link: The Safavid Empire:
<
Map_Safavid_persia.png>

3. Word List
Timeline
Ottomans
Özbegs
(Uzbeks)
janissaries
wakil
(deputy)
shah
1510 Safavids have taken
eastern Asia Minor, Iraq and
western Persia. Defeats Özbegs
in battle.
Safavids defeat Özbegs
again, secures eastern border.
1514 Ottomans defeat Safavids
at Chaldiran, briefly occupy
Tabriz.

4. Timeline
Reign of Tahmasp.
1533 Tahmasp takes de facto power.
1534, 1548, Ottoman invasions of
Safavid territory. Peace finally made, Iraq
(including Baghdad) left in Ottoman hands.
Safavids keep Tabriz, but Tahmasp moves
capital to Qazvin.

5. Timeline
1587 Murshid Quli Khan raises ‘Abbas to
throne.
Reign of ‘Abbas.
1598 ‘Abbas transfers capital to Isfahan.
Safavids push Ottomans out of
north-west Persia, Baghdad and south-east
Asia Minor.

6. Timeline
Reign of Safi.
Reign of ‘Abbas II.
1645 ‘Abbas II takes de facto power.
1648 Safavids take Qandahar from Mughals.
Reign of Safi II/Sulayman.

7. Timeline
Reign of Sultan Husayn.
1722 Mahmud of Qandahar takes Isfahan.
Sultan Husayn abdicates. Mahmud becomes
new ruler of Isfahan, effectively bringing
Safavid rule to an end.

8. Object List
The Citadel at Bam (Iran). 130 miles southeast of Kirman, Great Sand
desert th c. Sundried brick. View of Citadel and water
tower with old town below. (F)
desert th c. Sundried brick. Overall view of Citadel in
desert. (F)
desert th c. Sundried brick. View of Observation Tower
and Fortified area below. (F)
desert th c. Sundried brick. View of fortifications from
below, with surrounding wall and towers. (F)
F = Ferret, A = Archnet

9. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet
The Citadel at Bam (Iran). 130 miles southeast of Kirman, Great Sand
desert th c. Sundried brick. View over old town falling
into disrepair. (F)
Axonometric reconstruction of Maidan-i Shah (begun 1598) and the
surrounding buildings. (A)
Pavilion of the ‘Ali Qapu (Gate of ‘Ali, ) originally
monumental gateway to royal palaces. (F)
Maidan. View southeast with the Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah to the
left, ‘Ali Qapu to the right, and the Masjid-i Shah ahead. (A)
‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. View of ceiling and cut out plaster in
Music Room. (A)
‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. Detail view of cut-out plaster in Music Room.
(A - 2 slides)

10. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet
‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. Interior view of wooden latticed windows. (A)
‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. Detail view of wooden latticework. (A)
Chihil Sutun Pavilion. Isfahan. Mid-17th c. Front view. (F)
Chihil Sutun Pavilion. Isfahan. Mid-17th c. Interior view of the talar.
(A - 2 slides)
Chihil Sutun Pavilion. Isfahan. Mid-17th c. View of the mirrored niche
in the back wall of the talar. (A)

11. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet
Masjid Shaykh Lutfallah, Isfahan Dome (1616). (F)
View of Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah ( ), with ‘pink’ evening.
(F)
Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah. View of the entrance. (A)
Various views of the maidan. (A)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Aerial view. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan View of main entrance gate. (F)

12. Object List
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Detail inside entryway. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Detail of north side of court with
northeast iwan. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Northwest iwan. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Southeast iwan. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan View of southwest (qibla) iwan and
entrance gate. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Dome, showing a good example of tile
work. (F)
F = Ferret, A = Archnet

13. Object List Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Dome. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Interior. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Detail of interior. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Interior wall elevation. Elaborate
polychrome tile. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Detail of southern prayer hall. (F)
Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan Dome in front of mihrab. (F)
Madrasa-i Shah (bt. 1706). Reconstructed view of courtyard. (F)
F = Ferret, A = Archnet

14. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet
Madrasa-i Shah (bt. 1706). Entrance portal. (F)
The nightmare of Zahhak from Tahmasp Shahnama, (F)
Mystery object! Tabriz, c (F)
The past as myth. Nizami, Khamsa, Tabriz Theme drawn on
pre-Islamic Persian legend, Khusrau and his consort Shirin
spend the evening listening to stories told by her maids. Scene
evokes Scheherezade and the 1,001 nights. (F)
Book binding. Tabriz, c Lacquer on leather. Inner sides.
40 x 25cm. (F - 2 slides)
Young man in a blue coat. Riza. Isfahan, c Ink and colour on
paper. 13 x 7cm. (F)

15. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet
Picnickers. c Chihil Sutun. Isfahan. (F)
Tahmasp receiving Humayun. 1660s. Isfahan at the Chihil Sutun. (F)
Mir Afzal Tuni Album painting of a lady watching a dog drink from a
bowl. Iran, c Illuminated manuscript. (F)
Woman counting on her fingers Style of Mu‘in Musavvir. (F)
Riza-i ‘Abbasi: The Lovers (Metropolitan Museum of Art:
<
Mu‘in: Portrait of the painter Riza-i ‘Abbasi. Produced in Isfahan,
Iran, Watercolour on paper. Riza’s most gifted pupil
shows the master at work. (F)

16. Object List
Hajji Muhammad: Pen Box with a Europeanizing Landscape. Late 17th–
early 18th c. (Metropolitan Museum of Art:
<
Ardabil carpet. Iran. 1539/40. Wool pile on silk warps x 5.35m.
(F)
Iranian Kashan Medallion carpet. 16th c. wool, silk and silver thread.
2.48 x 1.99m. (F)
Text medallion. Iran. 16th c. Suta voided silk velvet. (F)
Fritware dish. Carved slip. Kirman. 17th c. (F)
Lustre-painted spouted jar. Iran, 17th c. (F)
F = Ferret, A = Archnet

17. Object List
Imitation blue-and-white bowl. Iran, possibly Mashhad, 17th c.
(Metropolitan Museum of Art: <
F = Ferret, A = Archnet