1. Timeline 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. 1501-24 Reign of Isma‘il. Word List Transoxania Timurids shaykh (Sufi master) Safi al-Din (1252-1334)

2. Timeline 1510 Safavids have taken eastern Asia Minor, Iraq and western Persia. Defeats Özbegs in battle. 1512-13 Safavids defeat Özbegs again, secures eastern border. 1514 Ottomans defeat Safavids at Chaldiran, briefly occupy Tabriz. Word List Ottomans Özbegs (Uzbeks) janissaries wakil (deputy) shah

3. Timeline 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.

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

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

6. Timeline 1694-1722 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.

7. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet The Citadel at Bam (Iran). 130 miles southeast of Kirman, Great Sand desert. 16-18th c. Sundried brick. View of Citadel and water tower with old town below. (F) The Citadel at Bam (Iran). 130 miles southeast of Kirman, Great Sand desert. 16-18th c. Sundried brick. Overall view of Citadel in desert. (F) The Citadel at Bam (Iran). 130 miles southeast of Kirman, Great Sand desert. 16-18th c. Sundried brick. View of Observation Tower and Fortified area below. (F) The Citadel at Bam (Iran). 130 miles southeast of Kirman, Great Sand desert. 16-18th c. Sundried brick. View of fortifications from below, with surrounding wall and towers. (F)

8. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet The Citadel at Bam (Iran). 130 miles southeast of Kirman, Great Sand desert. 16-18th 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, 1597-1660) 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) Detail of the vaults of the Music room of the ‘Ali Qapu, Isfahan. 1600s. (F)

9. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet Chihil Sutun Pavilion. Isfahan. Mid-17th c. Front view. (F) Masjid Shaykh Lutfallah, Isfahan. 1603-19. Dome (1616). (F) View of Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah (1603-19), with ‘pink’ evening. (F) Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah. View of the entrance. (A) Various views of the maidan. (A) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Aerial view. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. View of main entrance gate. (F)

10. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Detail inside entryway. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Detail of north side of court with northeast iwan. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Northwest iwan. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Southeast iwan. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. View of southwest (qibla) iwan and entrance gate. (F) Masjid-i Shah, Isfahan. 1611-66. Dome, showing a good example of tile work. (F)

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

12. Object List Madrasa-i Shah (bt. 1706). Entrance portal. (F) The nightmare of Zahhak from Tahmasp Shahnama, 1525-35. (F) Mystery object! Tabriz, c. 1540. (F) The past as myth. Nizami, Khamsa, Tabriz. 1539-43. 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. 1540. Lacquer on leather. Inner sides. 40 x 25cm. (F - 2 slides) Young man in a blue coat. Riza. Isfahan, c. 1587. Ink and colour on paper. 13 x 7cm. (F) F = Ferret, A = Archnet

13. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet Picnickers. c. 1647. 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. 1640. Illuminated manuscript. (F) Woman counting on her fingers. 1674. Style of Mu‘in Musavvir. (F) Mu‘in: Portrait of the painter Riza-i ‘Abbasi. Produced in Isfahan, Iran, 1673. Watercolour on paper. Riza’s most gifted pupil shows the master at work. (F) Ardabil carpet. Iran. 1539/40. Wool pile on silk warps. 10.51 x 5.35m. (F)

14. Object List F = Ferret, A = Archnet 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)