Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire (Library of Middle East History)

The Safavid dynasty, which reigned from the late fifteenth to the eighteenth century, links medieval with modern Iran. The Safavids witnessed wide-ranging developments in politics, warfare, science, philosophy, religion, art and architecture. But how did this dynasty manage to produce the longest lasting and most glorious of Iran’s Islamic-period eras? Andrew Newman offers a complete re-evaluation of the Safavid place in history as they presided over these extraordinary developments and the wondrous flowering of Iranian culture. In the process he dissects the Safavid story, from before the 1501 capture of Tabriz by Shah Ismail (1488-1524), the point at which Shi`ism became the realm’s established faith; on to the sixteenth and early seventeenth century dominated by Shah Abbas (1587-1629), whose patronage of art and architecture from his capital of Isfahan embodied the Safavid spirit; and culminating with the reign of Sultan Husayn (reg. 1694-1722). Based on meticulous scholarship, Newman offers a valuable new interpretation of the rise of the Safavids and their eventual demise in the eighteenth century. “Safavid Iran”, with its fresh insights and new research, is the definitive single volume work on the subject. Andrew Newman Offers A Complete Re-evaluation Of The Dynasty's Place In History As It Presided Over These Extraordinary Developments And The Wondrous Flowering Of Iranian Culture. Safavid Longevity, In Newman's Analysis, Derived From The Success Of Court Efforts Both To Give Voice To The Interests And 'agendas' Of Its Many Different Groups Of Subjects And To Portray The Shah As The Simultaneous Spokesman For, And Transcendent Ruler Over, The Entire Nation. Twelver Shi'ism Emerges As A Contested Arena In This Process But Less Intolerant Than Is Often Supposed. Throughout, Newman Questions The Continued Reliance On Frequently Contradictory And Unevenly Informed Contemporary European Accounts And On Persian Language Sources Often Written Well After The Events In Question. Based On Meticulous Scholarship, He Shows The Extraordinary Development And Achievement Of The Period And Offers A Valuable New Interpretation Of The Eventual Demise Of The Safavids In The Eighteenth Century.--jacket. Laying The Foundations: Ismail I (1488-1524) -- Reconfiguration And Consolidation: The Reign Of Tahmasp (1524-1576) -- The Second Civil War: Ismail Ii (1576-1577) And Khudabanda (1578-1587) -- Monumental Challenges And Monumental Responses: The Reign Of Abbas I (1587-1629) -- Shifts At The Centre And A Peace Dividend: Shah Safi (1629-1642) -- The Peace Dividend Consolidated: Shah Abbas Ii (1642-1666) -- Meeting The Challenges: Shah Sulayman (1666/68-1694) -- Denouement Or Defeat: The Reign Of Shah Sultan Husayn (1694-1722) -- Epilogue: Poetry And Politics--the Multiplicity Of Safavid Discourse. Andrew J. Newman. Includes Bilbiographical References In Notes (p. [145]-264) And Index. "The Safavid dynasty, which reigned from the late fifteenth to the eighteenth century, links medieval with modern Iran. The Safavids witnessed wide-ranging developments in politics, warfare, science, philosophy, religion, art and architecture. But how did this dynasty manage to produce the longest lasting and most glorious of Iran's Islamic-period eras? Andrew Newman offers a complete re-evaluation of the Safavid place in history as they presided over these extraordinary developments and the wondrous flowering of Iranian culture. In the process, he dissects the Safavid story, from before the 1501 capture of Tabriz by Shah Ismail (1488-1524), the point at which Shiism became the realm's established faith; on to the sixteenth and early seventeenth century dominated by Shah Abbas (1587-1629), whose patronage of art and architecture from his capital of Isfahan embodied the Safavid spirit; and culminating with the reign of Sultan Husayn (reg. 1694-1722).Based on meticulous scholarship, Newman offers a valuable new interpretation of the rise of the Safavids and their eventual demise in the eighteenth century. "Safavid Iran," with its fresh insights and new research, is the definitive single volume work on the subject."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Preface and Acknowledgements -- Map: Iran in the Safavid Period -- Introduction -- Laying the Foundations: Ismail I (1488-1524) -- Reconfiguration and Consolidation: The Reign of Tahmasp (1524-1576) -- The Second Civil War: Ismail II (1576-1577) and Khudabanda (1578-1587) -- Monumental Challenges and Monumental Responses: The Reign of Abbas I (1587-1629) -- Shifts at the Centre and a Peace Dividend: Shah Abbas II (1642-1666) -- The Peace Dividend Consolidated: Shah Abbas II (1642-1666) -- Meeting the Challenges: Shah Sulayman (1666.68-1694) -- Denouement or Defeat: The Reign of Shah Sultan Husayn (1694-1722) -- Epilogue: Poetry and Politics - The Multiplicity of Safavid Discourse -- Appendix I: Key Dates -- Appendix II: Key chronicles and travellers -- Notes -- Select Bibliography -- Index The Safavid period (1501-1722) is often viewed as the golden era in Iran's history, following the demise of the Sasanian Empire a thousand years earlier. In fact it represented a vital break with past Iranian history. Based on the latest in-depth research and historiography, Safavid Iran shows the extraordinary achievements of the Safavid period--political, economic and cultural. Andrew Newman examines art and architecture, philosophy, science and religion of the age and places them in the context of ruthless statecraft and institution-building. Haydar's son Ismail, to whom fell the leadership of the Safavid Sufi order at his father's death in battle in 1488, was but fourteen at the capture of Tabriz.