Safavid Dynasty: Map & History
The Safavid dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Safavid Iran, and one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736.
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Historiographical synthesis & structured realm registry
The Safavid dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Safavid Iran, and one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder empires. The Safavid Shah Ismail I established the Twelver denomination of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of the Persian Empire, marking one of the most important turning points in the history of Islam. The Safavid dynasty had its origin in the Safavid Sufi order, which was established in the city of Ardabil in the Azerbaijan region. It was an Iranian dynasty of Kurdish origin, but during their rule they intermarried with Turkoman, Georgian, Circassian, and Pontic Greek dignitaries; nevertheless, for practical purposes, they were not only Persian-speaking, but also Turkish-speaking and Turkified. From their base in Ardabil, the Safavids established control over parts of Greater Iran and reasserted the Iranian identity of the region, thus becoming the first native dynasty since the Sasanian Empire to establish a national state officially known as Iran.
Modern Countries Once Part of Safavid Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Safavid Dynasty covered territory in 11 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Armenia1502–1726 CE · nearly all
- Bahrain1609–1717 CE · nearly all
- Iran1502–1726 CE · nearly all
- Iraq1507–1639 CE · nearly all
- Azerbaijan1502–1726 CE · most
- Turkmenistan1512–1720 CE · a large part
- Afghanistan1512–1720 CE · a large part
- Georgia1612–1705 CE · a large part
- Turkey1507–1551 CE · a small part
- Syria1512–1533 CE · a small part
- Pakistan1512–1712 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Safavid Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Safavid Dynasty in Depth
Culture
After the fall of the Sasanian Empire in the 7th century, the idea of Iran as a political state ceased to exist, but it continued to shape Iranian national sentiment. Under the Mongol Ilkhanate (1256–1335), this notion was revived. After settling firmly in Iran, the Mongols actively supported its cultural heritage, centering their patronage on the Shahnameh. This development was aided by the emergence of the New Persian language as the predominant cultural language in this large region. During the Safavid period, these factors came together, and the Safavids collected and directed centuries of cultural achievements.
Legacy and assessment
Iran's modern period is often linked to the Safavid dynasty, which also laid the groundwork for the Iranian nation-state. Under them, Iran became a unified political entity, while its largely tribal and nomadic population became settled, relying on agriculture and trade for revenue. Patrimonial kingship, which combined territorial authority with religious legitimacy, was introduced by the Safavids and, with some modifications, endured until the 20th century.
The political system that emerged under them had overlapping political and religious boundaries and a core language, Persian, which served as the literary tongue, and even began to replace Arabic for theological conversation.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Safavid dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Safavid Dynasty: Key Facts
| Official languages | Persian, Turkic |
|---|---|
| Religion | Twelver Shiism |
| Founded | 1501 |
| Dissolved | 1736 |
Succeeded by
- Afsharid dynasty
Facts from Wikidata Q161205 (CC0).
Safavid Dynasty Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Safavid Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.
Safavid Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 2,846,306 km² in 1514 CE.
Safavid Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Safavid Dynasty exist?
The Safavid Dynasty is dated to 1502 CE – 1737 CE, in the Early Modern & Age of Discovery era.
How large was the Safavid Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 1514 the Safavid Dynasty covered about 2,846,306 km².
How did the map of the Safavid Dynasty change over time?
The Safavid Dynasty appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1600 CE to 1700 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
Other Sovereign Realms
High & Late Middle Ages • Capital: Avarga
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Söğüt, Bursa, Edirne, Constantinople
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, Delhi
Early Modern & Age of Discovery • Capital: Raigad