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Safavid Empire: Cultural Blending and Golden Age

Explore cultural blending in the Safavid Empire, its causes, results, and the Golden Age under Shah Abbas, focusing on arts, government, and quick decline.

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Safavid Empire: Cultural Blending and Golden Age

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  1. 18.2 – Cultural Blending: The Safavid Empire

  2. Setting the Stage • What is cultural blending? • What trait of a society can prevent cultural blending? • What are some current examples of cultural blending?

  3. Patterns • Cultural interaction = exposure to ideas, food, technology • Crossroads, trade routes, ports, & borders = beginning of mixture • Beneficial to be open and willing to adapt • Cultural blending = new patterns of behavior

  4. Causes • Cultural change brought about by: • Migration • Trade • Conquest • Religious freedom or conversion • Ex: Ottomans • Surrounded = motivation to take territory • Location on trade route = riches & contact with many • Interest in learning = new ideas about art, literature, etc.

  5. Results • Blending can lead to changes in all aspects • Language – characters from one to another • Chinese to Japanese • Religion – Different traditions w/in same religion • Reformation • Government – same government, different interpretations • Democracy: Athens v. U.S. • Ethnic Mixture – cultures mix together • Mestizos or Creoles in the Americas • Arts & Architecture – peoples adapt styles of others • Chinese artistic elements in European paintings

  6. Safavids • Fueled by need for territory & alignment to Shi’a Islam • Squeezed by Ottomans & Mughals = need for powerful army • 1499-1501: Isma’il (12-14) seizes Iran • Takes the title of shah & makes Shi’a the state religion • Religious tyrant: Kills all who don’t convert • Actions lead to modern border between Iraq & Iran • Tahmasp (son) expands empire to Caucasus & Turkey • Brings Christians into the empire

  7. Golden Age • 1587: Shah Abbas takes the throne • Issues reforms • Limited the army’s power by establishing an army of Persians & Christians = loyal to him • Punishes corruption & promotes by skill & loyalty • Hires foreigners to government positions • Encouraged trade with Christian Europe • Built a new capital at Esfahan = modern center for learning

  8. The Arts • Shah Abbas focused on the arts • Brought Chinese artisans to Esfahan • Produce vast amounts of metalwork, paintings, pottery, etc. • Collaboration = blend of Chinese & Persian ideas • Interactions w/ the West = demand for Persian carpets • Becomes a national industry • Huge source of wealth • Artists sent to Italy to adapt to European demands

  9. Quick Decline • Makes same mistake as Suleyman I w/ his successor • Kills or blinded ablest sons • Safi takes Safavids down the same path, but quicker • 1736: Nadir Shah Afshar expands empire to India • Cruel = assassinated by own troops • 1747: dies = disintegration of the empire

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