Mmw 13 Notes

SAFAVID EMPIRE Key Focus 1) The Ottoman (Sunni)-Safavid (Shiite) split in Dar al-Islam 2) Safavids use of religious extremism to jazz up a following and forge an empire 3) Transition from heterodox ideology to orthodox theocracy under Shah Abbas I) The Safavid snarf to Power in Persia 3 empires dominated by presence of Islam M2oguls in India, Ottoman Empire, and Safavids a) Ismail and the messianic Ideology of the Qizilbash (warriors red heads their turbans) i) How did a 14 year-old establish a dynasty? Led Turkish ground forces to usurp an Iranian city it was already a vulnerable region envisioned a utopian Islamic world (1) Claim lineage from 13th century Sufi leaderSafi al-Din (2) Reincarnation of the hidden 12th Imam of Shia Islam (3) Claim of divinity as the God-shah ?maybe reincarnation of Allah himself ii) Sufi belief in the transmission of mystical powers maybe a redeemer figure iii) Qizilbash fanaticism sometimes went into battle divest believed Ismails power could s ave em the more extreme their behavior, the more they showed their loyalty to Ismail b) The Safavid-Ottoman Conflict Safavids were intent on ventilation their Qizibash religions i) Clash of Heterodoxy vs. Orthodoxy (1) Safavids intent on spreading their Sufi/Shiite ideology ? Ottomans had control over Mecca ?Safavid discouraged pilgrimage to Mecca to undermine Ottomans persist (2) Ottoman Selim the Grims claim as the exterminator of idolators ? referring to Safavid ?made it his primary goal to travel by Safavid (3) Battle of Chaldiran (Kaldi-ran) 1514 ?slave armies were formidable used firmarms ?forced to retreated to center of their empire ii) Geopolitical consequences 1) commotion of the MediterraneanMiddle Eastern commercial network iii) Changes in Safavid Policies (1) Adoption of more conservative cross off of Imamite Shia II) Safavid Consolidation under Shah Abbas I (r. 1588-1629) a) Securing the Empire oAdopted Shia Imam/not so extreme ofanaticism is true(p) for GOING to power, moreover not conservative o1588 o1590, established impressive i) Military Reorganization reorganized army (1) Ghulam system ?recruited much better organized and loyal army (2) Alliances with Europeans to counter Ottoman advance ?first, with Portuguese, but almost always about arms i) Promote commerce (1) New capital in Isfahan as a cosmopolitan center of trade ? openly invited Euro and Asian merchants and Christian missionaires ? became incredibly worldy and diverse ?to shoot the breeze Isfahan is to see half the world (2) Secured trade routes within the Safavid realm b) Pragmatic ruler both feared and love i) Ruler in the Machiavellian vein? he did everything ideal of Machiavellian prince (1) Pragmatist not ideologue ? apt in statecraft and diplomacy ?close eye on suspicious stuff ?very active ?good on theological discourse (2) Manipulation of his public imageShah of the People ? ffect sovereign must project to his people to be feared and loved ? highly visible mingled with the common people ?made it a point to be humble and scruple wore simple linens not silks (3) More feared than loved? ?played no favorites ?no patience for flatterers ?ruled effectively and decisively ii) Religious Policies (1) Father Simons report to pope Paul V in 1605 (2) Purged of the Qizilbash iii) Symptoms of decline after Shah Abbas (1) Increasing intolerance towards other Muslim sects (2) great persecution of non-Muslims Shia imam was more tolerated even Sunnis were persecuted .