1. Nizaris – Isma‘ili Shi‘ites (formerly a.k.a. the Assassins) 12th c. Nizaris active in Persia and Levant 13th c. Nizaris suppressed by Mamluks and Mongols, driven underground c. 1460 Nizari Imam establishes HQ at Anjudan, re-establishes network, posing as Sufis

2. mid 14th c. Collapse of the Ilkhanate. Safavids build support among Qizilbash (“redheads”) 1499 Safavid Isma‘il attacks local Turkish rulers 1501 Isma‘il takes Tabriz 1501-24 Reign of Isma‘il as shah shaykh (Sufi master) Safi al-Din (lived 1252- 1334)

3. Map Link: The Safavid Empire: http://online.sfsu.edu/mroozbeh/Maps/Map-safavid.gif

4. 1510 Safavids have taken eastern Asia Minor, Iraq and western Persia. Defeat Uzbeks in battle 1512-13 Safavids secure eastern Border with Uzbeks 1514 Ottomans defeat Safavids at Chaldiran Ottomans Selim I (r. 1512-20) Uzbeks wakil (deputy) shah

5. 1524-76 Reign of Tahmasp 1533 Tahmasp takes de facto power 1534, 1548, 1554-55 Ottoman invasions of Safavid territory. Peace finally made, Iraq (including Baghdad) left in Ottoman hands. Safavids keep Tabriz, but Tahmasp moves capital to Qazvin

6. 1587 Murshid Quli Khan raises ‘Abbas to throne 1587-1629 Reign of ‘Abbas 1598 ‘Abbas transfers capital to Esfahan 1603-23 Safavids push Ottomans out of north-west Persia, Baghdad and south-east Asia Minor Maydan-e Shah

7. Trade links with Europe, tolerance of non- Muslims Suppression of non-Twelver Muslims, incl. Sufis, leading to change in Nizari approach to concealment of religion Confinement of royal princes to harem

8. 1629-42 Reign of Safi 1642-66 Reign of ‘Abbas II 1645 ‘Abbas II takes de facto power 1648 Safavids take Qandahar from Mughals 1666-94 Reign of Safi II/Sulayman

9. 1694-1722 Reign of Sultan Husayn 1709 Afghan Ghilzai tribe takes Qandahar 1722 Mahmud Ghilzai takes Esfahan. Sultan Husayn abdicates. Mahmud becomes new ruler of Isfahan, effectively bringing Safavid rule to an end 1736 End of Safavid line

10. 1736-47 Reign of Nadir Shah Persecution/fleeing of Twelver religious scholars 1740s Nizari Imam moves to Kirman, allows followers to show faith