Safavid Empire

Safavid Empire was an empire in Iran (Middle East) that lasted from 1501 to 1736 CE, about 235 years. Its people spoke Turkic languages (Gokturk, Uyghur, Seljuk, Ottoman, Kazakh, Tatar).

Ismail I, leader of the Turkic Qizilbash, made Twelver Shia Islam the faith of Iran. Shah Abbas I rebuilt Isfahan around a vast square. Afghans took Isfahan in 1722, and Nader ended the dynasty in 1736.

See Safavid Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1501 to 1736 CE

Duration

235 years

Type

Empire

Region

Iran, Middle East

Language family

Turkic

Capital

Tabriz, Qazvin, Isfahan

Came from

• Aq Qoyunlu 1378 to 1503 CE

Became

• Afsharid dynasty 1736 to 1796 CE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 1514 Battle of Chaldiran

Neighbours in Middle East

• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE
• Zaydi Imamate of Yemen 897 to 1918 CE
• Ottoman Syria and Palestine 1516 to 1918 CE
• Ottoman Iraq 1534 to 1918 CE
• Mamluk Sultanate (Syria) 1260 to 1516 CE
• Timurid Empire 1370 to 1507 CE
• Aq Qoyunlu 1378 to 1503 CE
• Emirate of Diriyah 1727 to 1818 CE
• Afsharid dynasty 1736 to 1796 CE
• Sharifate of Mecca 967 to 1925 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE, North and West Africa
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
• Mughal Empire 1526 to 1857 CE, South Asia

Questions