Safavid Empire

Summary

The Safavid Empire, often referred to as Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia, stands out as one of the most influential Iranian empires following the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century. Ruling from 1501 to 1736, the Safavid dynasty is regarded as the catalyst for modern Iranian history and is recognized as one of the prominent gunpowder empires of its time. A pivotal moment in Muslim history, the Safavid rulers established the Twelver school of Shia Islam as the empire's official religion, which fundamentally shaped the spiritual and political landscape of Iran.

The origins of the Safavid dynasty can be traced back to a Sufi order founded in the Azerbaijani city of Ardabil. Initially a spiritual movement, the Safavid order transformed into a formidable political force. The dynasty, which had Kurdish Iranian roots, became increasingly Turkified through intermarriages with various ethnic groups, including Turkoman, Georgian, Circassian, and Pontic Greek officials. As a result, the Safavid leaders became Turkish-speaking and culturally integrated into the diverse milieu of the region.