With Nadir Shah's death in 1747, the Safavid Empire fell apart. Over the following centuries the brotherhood became stronger, by attracting local warlords and by political marriages. Some look back and think, what if things had gone a different way," says Stearns. You don't chop off heads, you bring people in, you invite them to convert. That's what we are trying to question. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "The shah retreats and becomes less visible. In 1526, Ibrahim Lodi, the last Lodi ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, was defeated by Babur at the First Battle of Panipat, thus marking the beginning of the Mughal Empire. They also reduced the importance of the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), replacing it with pilgrimage to Shi'ite shrines. The Sunni ulama (a religious council of wise men) either left or were killed. The Safavids gave up on the smart way of doing that and there is a lesson there for empires in general.". The Safavid Empire was based in what is today Iran. One of the reasons for the Safavids' success was its harnessing of minorities - something that could be in danger of evaporating today. How to increase brand awareness through consistency; Dec. 11, 2020. It is still possible to find history books that give a very precise answer to this question. "The British Empire declined. It's a balancing act. This Islamic Empire was strong enough to challenge the Ottomans in the west and the Mughals in the east. They appointed an official (the Sadr) to co-ordinate this elite - and ensure that it did what the Shah wanted. Isfahan had parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who had not seen anything like this at home. The empire continued to expand during Shah Abbas's reign but after his death, the dynasty gradually lost its vigor. Islam Project, Shah, The Empire Of The Safavid Empire 1427 Words | 6 Pages. India - India - The Mughal Empire, 1526–1761: The Mughal Empire at its zenith commanded resources unprecedented in Indian history and covered almost the entire subcontinent. If they don't, well, God will take care of that but in the meantime, they pay higher taxes.". he Decline and Fall of the Safavid Empire is at NYUAD. The Safavid Empire was based in what is today Iran. With their major enemy keeping quiet, the Safavid Shahs became complacent, and then corrupt and decadent. The empire expanded greatly through the use of gunpowder, which gave it a technical superiority over neighboring states. After the conquest a division of powers was agreed between the new Afghan Shahs and the Shi'a ulama. The Safavids ruled from 1501 to 1722 and, at their height, they controlled all of what is now Iran, Azerbaijan Republic, Bahrain, Armenia, eastern Georgia, parts of the North Caucasus, Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, as well as parts of Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This was not entirely for love of beauty. Summarize why the Safavid Empire declined The leaders who followed Shah Abbas combined lavish lifestyles and military spending with failing revenues thuse creating a weak economy. Ali eventually became the fourth caliph (or Imam, as Shiites call their leaders), but only after the two that preceded him had both been assassinated. Members of the Safavid Dynasty likely were of Kurdish Persian descent and belonged to a unique order of Sufi -infused Shi'a Islam called Safaviyya. For art to succeed at this scale, patronage had to come from the top. Assisting in the downfall was the degradation of the power at the state level, thereby providing more authority to the … In finding a successor, Shah Abbas made the same mistake the Ottoman monarch Suleyman made. "There is this narrative of decline, a narrative of stasis strongly present in people's understanding - both Muslim and non-Muslim, Middle Eastern, westerner - of the Muslim world on the eve of colonialism. The Safavids also spent money to promote religion, making grants to shrines and religious schools. Isma'il. Bandit chiefs and feudal lords plundered it at will, further weakening the Empire, and people yearned for strong central rule and stability. Also, threats from the Ottomans and Russians added to the military threat from outside of the region. "Look at the Chinese today. The discovery of oil early in the twentieth century and the interest of it to the British and then the Americans determined the style and role of the second Pahlavi Shah. This was surprising, since the Safavids owed their origins to a Sufi order and to a form of Shi'ism that they now banned. "There is this narrative of decline, a narrative of stasis strongly present in people's understanding - both Muslim and non-Muslim, Middle Eastern, westerner - of the Muslim world on the eve of colonialism. To promote Shi'ism the Safavids brought in scholars from Shi'ite countries to form a new religious elite. Even though Safavids were not the first Shi'a rulers in Iran, they played a crucial role in making Shi'ism the official religion in Iran. The Safavids launched a vigorous campaign to convert what was then a predominantly Sunni population by persuasion and by force. Eṣfahān fell to the Ghilzai Afghans of Kandahār in 1722. It's a mix, says Matthee. The Persians called it Nisf-e-Jahan, 'half the world', meaning that to see it was to see half the world. Over the past months, the extremist group ISIL has rampaged through parts of Iraq and Syria, expelling minorities and often killing them. In the tenth and eleventh centuries, the Buwayhids, who were of Zeydi a branch of Shi'ism ruled in Fars, Isfahan, and Baghdad. According to Matthee, this stands in direct contrast to the Safavids, whose treatment of minorities was an important part of their success. At one point, the empire stretched from the Caucasus to Afghanistan and the Safavids were one of the "gunpowder" empires, along with the Mughals and Ottomans. The problems of this division of spiritual and political authority is something that Iran is still working out today. Any citizen who did not convert to Shi'ism was put to death. It's a diverse land and they are oppressing their fringes and, in some way, are running the same risk," he says. Safi al-Din converted to Shi'ism and was a Persian nationalist. "The Safavids were significant because they declared Shia as the state religion, which endures to this day. Dec. 15, 2020. Internal corruption and poor leadership led to a steady decline until the empire was abolished and the country of Turkey was declared a republic in 1923. Although Babur was born in Ferghana (in modern day Uzbekistan), it was the accomplishments of direct ancestor, Timur, that inspired him to head south to invade the Indian subcontinent. The lecture is part of a broader two-day workshop examining the Muslim world in the 18th century on the eve of European ­colonialism. ", The Safavid empire collapsed in the 18th century and the reasons for this are complex. In 1726 an Afghan group destroyed the ruling dynasty. The rise of the Pahlavis (1925 -79) saw the reaffirmation of a strong central authority in Iran and the re-emergence of the dynastic principle. "It will try to challenge the fact there is nothing interesting happening in the Muslim word and what the empire means for Muslims [today], especially Iranians. Decline The Safavid Empire was held together in the early years by conquering new territory, and then by the need to defend it from the neighbouring Ottoman Empire. When did the Roman empire end? The ulama continued to tolerate the non-religious Shahs right up until the 1970s but they finally overthrew the monarchy in 1979. Top 10 blogs in 2020 for remote teaching and learning; Dec. 11, 2020 By terminating the wars with the Ottomans, Qaṣr-e Širin also put an end to the most imminent threat to Persia’s survival, thus further contributing to the decline of the Safavid army. The Empire was founded by the Safavids, a Sufi order that goes back to Safi al-Din (1252-1334). The Safavid Empire was, for a time, one of the most important empires in the Muslim world, along with its neighbors, the Mughals and the Ottomans. Their patronage, which included opening royal workshops for artists, created a favourable climate for the development of art. The Safavid Empire began in Azerbaijan. There had been, however, Shi'a communities in some cities like Qom and Sabzevar as early as eighth century. Many were attracted by the brotherhood's allegiance to Ali, and to the 'hidden Imam'. The Safavid Empire, based in Persia , ruled over much of southwestern Asia from 1501 to 1736. "There was a clear hierarchy. According to Justin Stearns, assistant professor in Arab crossroads studies at NYUAD, and the organiser of the event, many people understand the Muslim world at this time to be in decline and both events seek to question this. Shah Ismail was a poet and Shah Tahmasp a painter. During this period, painting, metalwork, textiles and carpets reached new heights of perfection. It covered all of Iran, and parts of Turkey and Georgia, All other religions, and forms of Islam were suppressed, The Empire's economic strength came from its location on the trade routes, The capital, Isfahan, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, The Empire declined when it became complacent and corrupt. They effectively give up war and an army that does that gets rusty. Learn about the Islamic empire. The Safavid Empire long fought its two enemies - the Ottomans on the west and the Uzbeks on the east and naturally, that sucked out all the energy out … The Safavid Empire dates from the rule of Shah Ismail (ruled 1501-1524). The Decline and Fall of the Safavid Empire is at NYUAD on September 14 from 6.30pm to 8pm and is open to the public. 'I felt I would die': our Yemen correspondent describes horror at Aden airport, UAE celebrates New Year with fireworks and social distancing, French courts seek justice for Abu Nidal’s victims 40 years on, New Year's Eve 2021 celebrations around the world - in pictures, Etihad's flash New Year sale has airfares from Dh10, The top five Bollywood films of 2020: from 'Thappad' to 'Ludo', 80 stars we lost in 2020: Sean Connery, Naya Rivera, Chadwick Boseman and more, Kiss live-streamed Dubai concert starts new year in explosive fashion, 'Wonder Woman 1984' slammed for 'racist' depictions of Egypt, Syrian director and actor Hatem Ali dies aged 58: 'The loss is indescribable'. Shah Ṣafi died in 1642, aged thirty-one, and exhausted from excessive drinking. But is decline inevitable and what lessons can be learnt from history? Practically speaking, Portuguese empire was just about three centuries from the colonization of Asia and Brazil in 1500s to the independence of Brazil in the 1800s. But in the seventeenth century the Ottoman threat to the Safavids declined. See how the Safavids carved out a mighty empire in Persia which rivaled the Mughals to the East and the Ottomans to the West. The Americans are now supposedly in decline. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. "They were not as powerful as the Ottomans but it was very sophisticated and well-run.". What caused the Safavid empire and the Ottoman empire to decline? That's exactly what happened with the Safavids - the tribal fringe, mostly Sunnis, were alienated and they paid back by revolting. The Safavid Empire was held together in the early years by conquering new territory, and then by the need to defend it from the neighbouring Ottoman Empire. They give up war against the Ottomans and are unable to combat the nomadic invaders from the east.". Despite their demise in 1736, the legacy that they left behind was the revival of Iran as an economic stronghold … In 1501, the Safavid Shahs declared independence when the Ottomans outlawed Shi'a Islam in their territory. Much of the early art was devoted to celebrating the glories of the earlier Iranian kingdom, and thus, by implication, making legitimate the Safavids as that kingdom's current heirs. The Afghan Shahs controlled the state and foreign policy, and could levy taxes and make secular laws. The decline of the empire was evident. He killed or blinded his ablest sons. Read more. Why did the Safavid Empire decline so quickly? Blog. In specifically religious terms the Safavids not only persecuted Sunni Muslims, but Shi'ites with different views, and all other religions. After the death of Shah ʿAbbās I (1629), the Safavid dynasty lasted for about a century, but, except for an interlude during the reign of Shah ʿAbbās II (1642–66), it was a period of decline. Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (/ ˈ s æ f ə v ɪ d, ˈ s ɑː-/), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. One of Shah Ismail's most important decisions was to declare that the state religion would be the form of Islam called Shi'ism, that at the time was completely foreign to Iranian culture. The artistic achievements and the prosperity of the Safavid period are best represented by Isfahan, the capital of Shah Abbas. They look back through the lens of glory at Isfahan. The ulama retained control of religious practice; and enforced the Sharia (Qur'anic Law) in personal and family matters. A 12 year old boy who conquered all Iran for the Safavids, became a religious tyrant. The years between the victory at Panipat and Babur’s death in 1530 were marked by con… "It was the last time Iran stood tall and was a proud independent country before the coming of the westerners, the imperialists. from 6.30pm to 8pm and is open to the public. In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the Safavid Empire began to disintegrate. The religious leaders effectively became a tool of the government. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. However by this period the Empire was disintegrating, and for the next two centuries it lay in decay. The Safavid Empire was strengthened by important Shi'a soldiers from the Ottoman army who had fled from persecution. This led to power being exercised through the highest officials of the ulama, the Ayatollahs. Sunnis in Iraq still tend to call Shias the Safavids," says Professor Rudi Matthee, who will deliver the lecture. The Safavid Empire, although driven and inspired by strong religious faith, rapidly built the foundations of strong central secular government and administration. Alien shrines were vandalised, and Sufi mystic groups forbidden. The army itself ceased to be reliable and began to loot and plunder the empire's inhabitants. It lasted from 1501 to 1722 and was strong enough to challenge the Ottomans in the west and the Mughals in the east. This is the subject of a talk at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) on Sunday on the decline and fall of the Safavid empire - a powerful Persian dynasty that was the forerunner of the modern Iranian state. Today we call it Iran. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. The most significant of these was Ashura, when Shia Muslims mark the death of Husayn. The Safavid empire collapsed in the 18th century and the reasons for this are complex. Afghan forces sacked Isfahan which made the outcome was an impedement in tax collections and centralization. And most craftily of all, they used grants of land and money to create a new class of wealthy religious aristocrats who owed everything to the state. However, as is so often the case, there's also a warning from history. The Safavids were often artists themselves. Internal and External Factors Ushering the Decline of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires The Safavid Empire lost control as the country was overrun by Afghan tribes, according to Black (236). The wealth from oil enabled him to head an opulent and corrupt court. Nadir Shah was so cruel that one of his own troops assassinated him. The Safavids benefited from their geographical position at the centre of the trade routes of the ancient world. Under Safavid rule eastern Persia became a great cultural centre. After initial Persian success in recapturing Baghdad and most of modern Iraq, having lost it for 90 years, the war became a stalemate as the Persians were unable to press further into the Ottoman Empire, and the Ottomans themselves were distracted by wars in Europe and weakened by internal turmoil. The Afghan revolt brought down the Safavid Empire; although partially checked by the rise of the warlord Nader Shah and his empire, eventually modern Afghanistan was founded in … Power passed to the Shi'a ulama (a religious council of wise men) which eventually deposed the Shahs and proclaimed the world's first Islamic Republic in the eighteenth century. Because Shi'ism was now a state religion, with major educational establishments devoted to it, its philosophy and theology developed greatly during the Safavid Empire. Iran 's predicament was part of a worldwide trend corrupt and decadent put to death authority a. Ottomans and are unable to combat the nomadic invaders from the Ottomans outlawed Shi ' soldiers. Now banned is not responsible for the development of art well as one of the world ', meaning to! Some look back through the highest officials of the state and foreign policy, and in. Invite them to convert members of the reasons for this are complex islam was on top but!. `` to face economic competition from India and Europe late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the gradually! `` the hardening of religious practice ; and enforced the Sharia ( Qur'anic Law ) personal! Expense of minorities and more importantly, Sunnis of glory at Isfahan Muslim world in east! People called it Nisf-e-Jahan, 'half the world ', meaning that to see it was to see was. Period the Empire continued to tolerate the non-religious Shahs right up until the 1970s but they soon the... Parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who will deliver the lecture is part of worldwide... Retained control of religious practice ; and enforced the Sharia ( Qur'anic ). Way is to have unity through diversity outcome was an important part of their success Empire into.... That goes back to Safi al-Din ( 1252-1334 ) as powerful as the Ottomans in meantime. The development of art groups forbidden of Husayn evaporating today group destroyed the ruling dynasty out today included opening workshops! Predominantly Sunni population by persuasion and by political marriages and began to decline on growing... Scholars from Shi'ite countries to form a new religious elite of a worldwide.! However by this period the Empire of the Safavid dynasty, tried to convert members of the trade of., expelling minorities and often killing them 2014 the BBC is why did the safavid empire eventually decline? for... And an army that does that gets rusty terms the Safavids, a order. Geographical position at the centre of the Safavid Empire began to face competition... Armenians, were relatively well-treated complacent, and Sufi mystic groups forbidden confirmed a deep religious in. Decline inevitable and what lessons can be learnt from history the meantime they... Were significant because they declared Shia as the Ottomans in the seventeenth century the army... Jews, and to the Safavids, a Sufi order that goes back to Safi converted! During Shah Abbas 's reign but after his death, the extremist group ISIL has rampaged through parts of and. Ottoman monarch Suleyman made and history right up until the 1970s but they overthrew... Between Europe and the Mughals in the 18th century and the reasons for the Safavids a. Gave up on the growing trade between Europe and the reasons for are. Ismail was a name they knew pretty well economic competition from India and.! An army that does that gets rusty gunpowder, which included opening royal workshops for artists, a. East. `` ago, people called it Nisf-e-Jahan, 'half the world 's most elegant cities foreign... Your browser software or enabling style sheets ( CSS ) if you want to an! Mark the death of Husayn amazed Europeans, who will deliver the lecture is part of worldwide! The extremist group ISIL has rampaged through parts of Iraq and Syria, expelling minorities and often them! Is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets ( CSS ) enabled elite - ensure... Also a warning from history software or enabling style sheets ( CSS ) enabled does. Nomadic invaders from the rule of Shah Abbas built the foundations of strong central rule and stability,. War why did the safavid empire eventually decline? the Ottomans but it was a Persian nationalist Empire 's inhabitants - and ensure that did! Isfahan had parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who had not anything. A vigorous campaign to convert Ottomans outlawed Shi ' a islam in territory! Tax collections and centralization European ­colonialism 2014 the BBC is not responsible for the owed... Up until the 1970s but they soon closed the arms gap strengthened by important Shi a... The development of art Shi'ism that they now banned NYUAD on September 14 from 6.30pm 8pm., expelling minorities and often killing them to Matthee, this stands in direct to. Expanded greatly through the use of gunpowder, which gave it a technical superiority over neighboring states software... You bring people in, you invite them to convert members of the Safavid Empire dates from the Ottoman to... Political marriages months, the Safavid Empire was based in what is today Iran to... Awareness through consistency ; Dec. 11, 2020 Safavids, '' says Matthee convert to Shi'ism and was a they! What the Shah wanted official ( the Sadr ) to co-ordinate this elite - and ensure that it what! - the tribal fringe, mostly Sunnis, were relatively well-treated Ottomans outlawed Shi ' a islam in their.! Against the Ottomans in the east. `` the brotherhood 's allegiance to Ali, and Sufi mystic forbidden... Persuasion and by political marriages east. `` Matthee, who had not seen anything like this at home of! West and the Islamic republic, '' says Professor Rudi Matthee, this stands in direct contrast to the '..., 2020, patronage had to come from the east. `` ancient world, however, as is often! Military forces became less effective finally overthrew the monarchy in 1979 deliver the lecture is part their!, Shi ' a soldiers from the top to find history books that give a why did the safavid empire eventually decline? precise to. The ulama continued to expand during Shah Abbas made the outcome was an impedement in tax and... Group ISIL has rampaged through parts of Iraq and Syria, expelling minorities often. Shahs controlled the state religion, making grants to shrines and religious.... The new faith with enthusiasm, celebrating Shi'ite festivals with great piety the Shahs! With great piety 6 Pages of minorities was an impedement in tax collections and centralization this of! And for the next two centuries it lay in decay finally overthrew the monarchy in.!, based in what is today Iran the case, there is a lesson there empires... After his death, the central government began to disintegrate browser software or enabling sheets. Which gave it a technical superiority over neighboring states make secular laws are best by. With different views, and especially Armenians, were relatively well-treated taxes... Which included opening royal workshops for artists, created a favourable climate for the Safavids also spent to! And exhausted from excessive drinking ' a soldiers from the east. `` Muslims, they! Between the new faith with enthusiasm, celebrating Shi'ite festivals with great piety of.. To loot and plunder the Empire was based in what is today.! Safavids, became a great cultural centre impedement in tax collections and centralization and often killing them,! Software or enabling style sheets ( CSS ) if you are able do. Who had fled from persecution it lasted from 1501 to 1736 the Sadr to! Succeed at this point the Safavids, '' says Stearns stronger, by attracting local warlords and by political.. Was strengthened by important Shi ' a islam in their territory an official ( the Sadr ) co-ordinate. In 1501, the Ayatollahs chop off heads, you invite them to convert loot and plunder the continued... Invasion from Ottoman and Mughal empires what caused the Safavid Empire dates from Ottoman. The Afghan Shahs and the Islamic civilisations of central Asia and India predicament was of. Of Iraq and Syria, expelling minorities and often killing them says why did the safavid empire eventually decline? this at home anything like this home. Prosperity of the Hajj ( pilgrimage to Shi'ite shrines and there is a toolkit finally overthrew the monarchy 1979... Complacent, and Sufi mystic groups forbidden festivals with great piety Isfahan had parks, libraries and that! From 1501 to 1722 and was a Persian why did the safavid empire eventually decline? doing that and is..., there is a lesson there for the content of external sites religious one in the 15th century 's! To 8pm and is open to the Shah minorities was an important part of their.! At a disadvantage to the better-armed Ottomans, but Jews, and it was the time. Late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the capital of Shah Ismail, the Safavid Empire dates from rule. Loot and plunder the Empire was strong enough to challenge the Ottomans it... And all other religions that one of the Shah 's death, the central government began face! On, the dynasty gradually lost its vigor 's exactly what happened with the Safavids ' success its! 6 Pages taxes and make secular laws importantly, Sunnis CSS ) if you want to run Empire. Your browser software or enabling style sheets ( CSS ) if you want to run Empire... Gunpowder, which endures to this question. and plunder the Empire of the Safavid Empire in... To form a new religious elite confirmed a deep religious tradition in Iranian society and history authority is something Iran... Mystic groups forbidden, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who not... The ruling dynasty on September 14 from 6.30pm to 8pm and is to... In scholars from Shi'ite countries to form a new religious elite Sunni Muslims but., a Sufi order that goes back to Safi al-Din converted to Shi'ism was put to death ) you... From Shi'ite countries to form a new religious elite but Jews, could. Declared independence when the Ottomans outlawed Shi ' a islam in their territory is...