Safavid Persia in the Age of Empires

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The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries marked the rise of the Safavid regime in Iran, which not only unified Persian lands but also transformed the religious landscape by establishing Imami Shi'ism as the state faith, laying the groundwork for Iran's modern identity. This book features leading scholars who analyze the concept of Iran during the Safavid period through the perspectives of both insiders and outsiders, exploring how modern scholarship characterizes this era. Often seen as a time of decline from the heights of classical Persian literature and visual arts, the chapters reveal that the Safavid era was, in fact, a vibrant period of literary and artistic achievement in both secular and theological domains. The book also examines interactions with neighboring polities across western, southern, and central Asia, such as the Ottomans, Mughals, and Uzbeks. As European merchants and diplomats began to visit Safavid Persia more frequently in the seventeenth century, and as Iranians documented their travel experiences, this period emerges as the first in which we can trace Iran's role in a broader world context, providing insights into how Iranians perceived themselves and how they were viewed by others.