Islamic Timeline of RevelationOpen on the timeline →Iran & Central AsiaAsiaMajor empire
Safavid Empire
Also known as Safavid Iran
The Safavids, originally a Sufi order, founded the empire that unified Iran and made Twelver Shia Islam its official religion. Under Shah Abbas I its capital Isfahan became one of the great cities of the world. The empire collapsed after the Afghan capture of Isfahan in 1722.
Key facts
| Dates | 1501 – 1736 CE |
|---|---|
| Region | Iran & Central Asia |
| Continent | Asia |
| Capitals | Tabriz, Qazvin, Isfahan |
| Founder | Ismail I |
| Religion(s) | Twelver Shia Islam |
| Peak extent | ≈ 2.9 million km² (c. 1630 CE) – source |
Before & after
Preceded by
Timurid Empire Aq Qoyunlu Shirvanshahs
Followed by
In the Islamic timeline
- Ithna Ashariyyah (Twelver Shia) — Made Twelver Shi'ism the state religion of Iran.
Sources
Dates follow widely used reference works; many ancient dates are approximate or debated. Neutral summary for general reference.