Safavid Empire Case Study

1. Define the terms “mercantilism and the Navigation Laws,” then explain to what extent these policies led to

During the period of 1492 to 1750, Europe experienced drastic changes during their Age of Discovery. As a result of contact and colonization, Western Europe’s economy, political, social, and military systems changed, but also maintained certain aspects that enabled them to build strong civilizations. Such changes include increased (international) trade routes, more centralized governments such as monarchies, decreased unifying influence of the Catholic Church, and increased interest in military conquest and expansion.

Before the sixteenth century, the Ottoman and Safavid empires flourished. However, later on both empires underwent dramatic change and political and economic troubles weakened them. From 1500 to 1800, in the Eastern Mediterranean region, the Ottoman and Safavid empires both fell due to economic difficulties and military decline however, their religious conflicts differed. Both the Safavid and Ottoman empires experienced decline due to extreme economic difficulties. By the eighteenth century, domestic economies were under great stress and foreign trade had declined drastically.

Europe benefited tremendously from the shift of global power and really flourished. They can thank new sailing technology and gunpowder technology as two main factors of power shifting towards them. Though one was more responsible for the power shift. Gunpowder technology was more responsible than sailing technology in the shift of global power due to guns being the main way to conquer other people and really control foreign lands. An example of this is Portugal discovering and taking over the Western coast of Africa. He first came upon this new location because of the sailing technology but if it weren't for gunpowder they would of never been able to conquer that land so easily. This lead to Portugal creating trading outposts along the west coast of Africa,

Safavid Empire were a native Iranian period of time with the same powerful family rulers from Azerbaijan that ruled from 1501 to 1736. It established Shi'a Islam as Iran's official religion and united its areas of a country under a single Iranian independent power of a country in the early modern period. This clearly made different to Iran from the Ottomans, who were Sunnis. Thus, the central holy and untouchable places of Sunni Islam would always be in the Arabian Peninsula and the places were much closer to Iraq, took prisoners by force by the Safavids in 1623 but then they gave up again to the Ottomans in 1639. The Safavids generally ruled over a peaceful and rich empire and their death was followed by a period of unrest but then they clever got together as partners with powers in order to protect themselves from the Ottomans.

Throughout the twentieth century Iran, like many other countries in the world, would enter a period of change that would completely alter the political, social and economic structure of the country. Perhaps the most important result of this restructuring was the incorporation of Shia Islam from solely the religious sphere to both the religious and political sphere. Analysis of history shows that for centuries Shia Islam had maintained its existence by functioning as a religious arm of the monarchy. The establishment of the Safavid Dynasty in 1501 resulted in Shia Islam become the official religion of Persian Empire and it was drawn upon by rulers in the following centuries as a source of imperial power. The collapse of the Safavid Empire in

I think the most important changes during this time were the wars and the changes in churches. The wars impacted European culture greatly. One of the most impacting one was The Crusades. This was a series of campaigns that were made by european christians who wanted to gain back part of the middle-east from the muslims. This lasted over 200 years and helped trade grow between europe and the middle-east. This also helped both learn each others different culture and ideas they had. Soon, human experience and individual achievement grew larger and became more valued. Their culture changed so much from the impact of The Crusades. The Crusades also changed religion. Catholic Churches started to lose their power and soon enough the pope and the practices

37. What new trade development/innovation led to greater European involvement in countries around the world? (Note: this will play a key role in “imperialism” later)

Another factor for the European expansion was the ability to establish a colony in the New world to supply the country with resources that were becoming scarce. This tactic allowed the countries to keep imports to a minimum and increase exports. This not only helped a countries economy but also strenghtened their standing ( Brinkley p. 25).

While I do think that Japan’s and China’s policies of isolations served them well in many circumstances, especially in warding off colonization by Europe, I also think that societies become rewardingly more complex and more advantageously when they swap ideas, technology, resources, and cultures, along with when they are tolerant of each other. For instance, Shah Abbas of the Safavids drew up the golden age of his empire through techniques of impeccable cultural blending. He, in a show of tolerance towards other religions, accepted members of Christian religious orders into the empire, causing Europeans immigrate to the lands. Consequently, interrelations of industry, trade, and art exchanges flourished between the empire and European nations.

The Roman Catholic Church, a civilizing force in the western civilization, played a prominent role in European history. Historical records of Europe’s culture began with Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. It continued with Christianization throughout the middle ages and developed into the reformation that was triggered by the Renaissance. However, the Renaissance influenced the way the European people viewed the world and enforced reasoning (the opposite of faith), which demolished Christian unity and doctrines on faith and morals.

From 1000 to 1300 western Europe went through political and economic reorganization. There was no revival of central imperial authority in western Europe, even though there was an establishment of the Holy Roman Empire. Agricultural improvements brought increased food supplies, which encouraged urbanization, manufacturing, and trade. In the high middle ages, Roman Catholic Christianity was the cultural foundation of European society. The church advanced educational institutions such as cathedral schools and universities. Between 1000 and 1300, western European peoples strengthened their own society. There was an establishment of regional states, an economic growth and social development, European Christianity during the Middle Ages, and medieval expansion in Europe.

The Safacid Empire Begin in Persia after they were finally conquor the Sunnis. This event start during the Ottoman Empire start to decline after the Suleiman death. During the 17 century the shi'ite start to have a full population of Persia. This go to the modern days as well. When the leadership was granted to the leader name Shah Abbas in 1557, he created the multi ethnic population of Persia to be united together. He held absolute power of the prosperous empire, constructed his capital of Isfahan, but then he start to build mosques, palaces, roads, and bridges. Then the government held a monopolies in good such as silk which in the 1600, they start to compete of china in the European market. Soon, this create a carpet making industry as

Nishapur is a city in the Razavi Khorasan Province in Iran and was a regional capital and important center of agriculture, commerce, and learning. (Bulliet, 1975) Nishapur reached the height of its prosperity under the Samanids in the 10th century. (Kröger, 1995) The Samanid Dynasty was the first native dynasty to arise in Iran after the Muslim Arab conquest and led the revival of Persian culture. (Ridgeon, 2012) It was known for the driving force it gave to Iranian attitudes, beliefs, and learning. Samanid rule is part of the so-called Iranian Intermezzo, which saw the creation of a Persian Muslim culture and identity that brought Iranian speech and traditions into the fold of the Islamic world. (Canfield, 2002) The Islamization of Iran transformed

Early modern Europe is the period between 1400-1800 , this period covers the years from the renaissance to the French Revolution . One of the most important elements which shaped early modern Europe was the Reformation . The Reformation is a disturbance in the religious and political culture of the 16th century . This revolution disintegrated christian Europe and settled in place new attitudes and theories that would outline the modern era. It was a very long process of change , communities were divided ,which resulted in a rise of enemies both within and outside communities.The Reformation was the most important element that would shape this period because it led to other very important events like the counter - reformation , the thirty year