1. Aaron, Collin, Diego, Daniel, Ryan, Sean
Safavid Empire
Aaron, Collin, Diego, Daniel, Ryan, Sean

2. The Rise of the Safavids
Ismail won the complicated struggle for power of Iran in 1502. 
When he was 16, Ismail named himself shan.
He declared that his realm would practice Shi'ite Islam
Many considered Ismael as the god incarnate
His word was law
The only resistance came from the Iranian subject population

3. Society and Religion
Each Sufi brotherhood had distinctive rituals and concepts of mystical union with god
Ismail declared that his realm would practice Islam
Iran had fruitful contacts with India
In 1500 a huge library was created
Muslim rulers made Persian the official language in India

4. A Tale of Two Cities: Isfahan and Istanbul
Istanbul became Iran's capital in 1598 by decree of Shan Abbas I
Istanbul: built on 7 hills on the S side of the Narrow Golden Hornet Inlet
High walls surrounded the Sultan's palace in Istanbul
The harbor of Istanbul was the primary Ottoman Seaport
Many of the ships belonged to European merchants
Wheeled vehicles were scarce
Both cities favored walking
Persian was one of the major languages
Written in Arabic
Women's society consisted of children, wives, female servants...
peotry and art were more elegantly developed in Isfahan than Istanbul
Religion disproved homosexuality

5. A Tale of Two Cities: Isfahan and Istanbul
Many Diverse Non-Muslim communities in Istanbul
Isfahan was not a Cosmopolitan capital
Isfahan had a prosperous Armenian quarter

6. Economic Crisis and Political Collapse
The Safavid granted land to the Qizbash for mounted mounted military
The safavid had difficult paying the military and the bureaucracy
each city had their own desighn on the quilts and carpets they made 
most people who lived in rural areas relied accordingly to the will of nomadic chieftains
by the 17 century the safavid controlled little