1. Cultural Blending: The Safavid Empire

2. Setting the Stage What is cultural blending?
What trait of a society can prevent cultural blending?
What are some current examples of cultural blending?

3. Patterns Cultural interaction = exposure to ideas, food, technology
Crossroads, trade routes, ports, & borders = beginning of mixture
Beneficial to be open and willing to adapt
Cultural blending = new patterns of behavior

4. Causes Cultural change brought about by: Ex: Ottomans Migration Trade
Conquest
Religious freedom or conversion
Ex: Ottomans
Surrounded = motivation to take territory
Location on trade route = riches & contact with many
Interest in learning = new ideas about art, literature, etc.

5. Results Blending can lead to changes in all aspects
Language – characters from one to another
Chinese to Japanese
Religion – Different traditions w/in same religion
Reformation
Government – same government, different interpretations
Democracy: Athens v. U.S.
Ethnic Mixture – cultures mix together
Mestizos or Creoles in the Americas
Arts & Architecture – peoples adapt styles of others
Chinese artistic elements in European paintings
Results

6. Safavids Fueled by need for territory & alignment to Shi’a Islam
Squeezed by Ottomans & Mughals = need for powerful army
: Isma’il (12-14) seizes Iran
Takes the title of shah & makes Shi’a the state religion
Religious tyrant: Kills all who don’t convert
Actions lead to modern border between Iraq & Iran
Tahmasp (son) expands empire to Caucasus & Turkey
Brings Christians into the empire

8. Golden Age 1587: Shah Abbas takes the throne Issues reforms
Limited the army’s power by establishing an army of Persians & Christians = loyal to him
Punishes corruption & promotes by skill & loyalty
Hires foreigners to government positions
Encouraged trade with Christian Europe
Built a new capital at Esfahan = modern center for learning

9. The Arts Shah Abbas focused on the arts
Brought Chinese artisans to Esfahan
Produce vast amounts of metalwork, paintings, pottery, etc.
Collaboration = blend of Chinese & Persian ideas
Interactions w/ the West = demand for Persian carpets
Becomes a national industry
Huge source of wealth
Artists sent to Italy to adapt to European demands
The Arts

10. Quick Decline Makes same mistake as Suleyman I w/ his successor
Kills or blinded ablest sons
Safi takes Safavids down the same path, but quicker
1736: Nadir Shah Afshar expands empire to India
Cruel = assassinated by own troops
1747: dies = disintegration of the empire