The Safavid Empire

CH. 2 SEC. 2

The Safavid Empire

UEQ and LEQ

UEQ: How was absolutism expressed in different regions around the world?

LEQ: How did Shah Abbas help start a golden age in the Safavid Empire?

Vocabulary

SafavidIsma’ilShahShah AbbasEsfahanPersians

Map Activity

Turn to page 71 in your textbook.Take out the map that you colored in the

Ottoman Empire and then grab one colored pencil.

Using the map on page 71 in your textbook, color in the Safavid Empire.

The Safavid Empire Grows

Safavids Originally were members of an Islamic religious

brotherhood. Brotherhood was founded by Safi al-Din The land they lived on was between two Empires, so

the Safavids built a huge army for protection.

Taking Over Present Day Iran

The Safavids continue to build their army until 1499. In 1499, a twelve year old boy named Isma’il

becomes leader of the military and uses the Safavid army to take over Persia, which the country of Iran today.

Isma’il has himself named shah, which means king.

Life under Isma’il

Unlike Ottoman rulers, Safavid rulers like Isma’il hated other religions. Any citizen that did not convert “change” religion to

Shi’ism was killed. In a war with Ottomans, Isma’il destroyed the entire

Sunni religious population in the city of Baghdad.

By killing all the Sunnis in Baghdad, Isma’il caused the Ottoman ruler, Selim the Grim, to order the execution of all Shiites in the Ottoman Empire, these people practiced the same religion as Isma’il.

Sunnis vs. Shiites

Read the article that I have given you and underline answers in the article to the questions below… How are both religious groups similar? How are they

different? What percentage of Muslims are Sunni and Shiite? What happens to Shiites if Sunnis have a bigger population? Sunnis in Iran are treated poorly, how? What happens to power between the Sunnis and Shiites? What do Sunnis believe about Shiites?

Sunnis and Shiites

Shah Abbas

After the death of Isma’il, Shah Abbas “Abbas the Great” becomes ruler in 1587.

Shah Abbas starts the golden age “time of wealth”

Reforms: Limited power of military Created two loyal armies Punished corruption in the government Brought Christian worshippers into the empire so

Europeans would move into the empire.

Shah Abbas and the Golden Age

Changes under Shah Abbas

Shah Abbas built a new capital called Esfahan. Allowed different groups of artists, painters, and sculptors

to help design and build the city.

Art Work: Abbas allowed hundreds of Chinese artists to create

paintings, glass windows, pottery, that decorate the churches in Esfahan.

Carpets: Countries wanted carpets made in the Safavid Empire With so many countries wanting carpets, this helped the

Safavid Empire become friends with different countries.

Safavid Art

How are they similar?How are they different?

Safavid Carpets

The Safavid Empire Falls apart…

Mistakes of Shah Abbas Killed and blinded his oldest sons. Chose his weak grandson Safi to be the next

ruler.

Final Ruler Nadir Shah Afshar becomes the final Safavid

ruler in 1736. He was so cruel that one of his soldiers

assassinated him After his death in 1747 the Safavid Empire

collapsed.

Cultural Blending

Turn to page 78 in your textbook.

Work with the person sitting next to you answer these three questions…

What is Cultural Blending?

Where does cultural blending occur?

What are cultures exposed to when they meet another culture?

Causes of Cultural Blending

Cause Number 1

Migration People moving to different areas

or different countries.


Cause Number 2

Religious Freedom Moving to a country where you

can practice your religion.


Cause Number 3

Trade Buying or selling different things

to other people or countries.


Cause Number 4

Conquest Taking over another country by

force.

What are the 5 impacts of Cultural Blending?

Using the section titled, “Results of Cultural Blending” read over the short section from the bottom of page 78 to the middle of page 79.

Write down the 5 impacts that cultural blending has on different parts of a culture and give a brief explanation in your own words about what each means.

Impact of Cultural Blending

Language: Languages are mixed together, or a cultures writing is mixed together.

Chinese language used in the country of Japan…


Religion: religions spread into different countries but change their ideas.

Buddhist monks believe in different things from Japanese Zen monks.


Government: government ideas spread into different countries but they are not the same.

American democracy lets people vote for leaders, Chinese democracy does not let people vote for leaders.


Race: different races come together through marriage.

Mestizo are people living in Mexico that have European and Mexican families.


Art and Architecture: styles of art and architecture are mixed together when building new buildings.

Builders of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. borrowed ideas from Greek buildings in Europe

Exit Ticket

Answer the LEQ

“Why is cultural blending important for any group of people, or country today?”

This is your opinion, but explain your answer…

The Safavid Empire

Documents

Transcript of The Safavid Empire