Safavids

The Safavid Empire was located in modern-day Iran and Iraq. The shah, or imperial head, ruled through a Persian-style bureaucracy consisting of a warrior elite and Russian military force which they captured from Russia. The government built a road network system to encourage merchants to trade with Europe in order to gain military knowledge. Like the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid government controlled and encouraged trade and commerce through public works. The Safavids also practiced Islam but were not religiously tolerant and only accepted Shi'as. Missionaries were sponsored to promote Shi'ism. Women were given no religious or political power, they were veiled, and had no rights to inheritance. The Safavids believed in a harsher treatment of peasants and also depended on slavery for more difficult and harsh jobs. Literature was at first written in Turkish but switched to Persian, which was similar to the Ottomans. The Mullahs, or mosque officials, ran religious schools as the only source of education. Following the Safavid Empire came the Mughal Empire in the Indus and Ganges plains.

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Created by Hannah Hollon 12/07/08