Shah Abbas Essays Example

Shah Abbas was one of the most powerful kings of the Safavid Empire who took the throne in the year 1587, at a very early age of sixteen. He implemented various reforms in both civilian as well as military life. He created two armies, which were loyal to him and equipped them with modern armaments. Shah Abbas reformed the government by punishing corruption and encouraged foreign recruitment in government positions . He relocated the tribes and centralized the system of administration. Abbas valued Christian religious orders and encouraged the exchange of trade, art and industry between the European nations. He built the new capital of Esfahan and collaborated with various Chinese artisans for building the city. He created various elegant and beautiful domes in the city, which symbolize Persian art. Shah Abbas encouraged miniature painting and carpet weaving.
In spite of the pressure from the Ottomans and the Uzbeks, Shah Abbas was successful in extending the Persian Empire to Kandahar in the east, Mesopotamia in the west and the ceded regions of Turkey . He was a successful emperor as he was able to recapture Herat, which was under the control of the Uzbeks. Shah Abbas also reestablished the control over Iraq, a few areas of Caucasus and Georgia. Shah Abbas was responsible for transforming the Safavid Empire into the Third Great Empire of Persia. He travelled in the hot, dry desert of Persia to reach the city of Tehran and other parts of the kingdom. When time arrived to decide the successor of the Safavid Empire, Shah Abbas commenced the mistake of ignoring his sons and handing over the kingdom to his grandson Safi who was incompetent . The death of Shah Abbas marked the beginning of the decline of the Safavid Empire in Persia.

References

Cultural Blending. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 06, 2015, from JM Cent Arfer: http://jmcentarfer.tripod.com/ch18_2.pdf
History of Iran- Persia. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 06, 2015, from History World: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=hiu
The Safavids, 1501-1722. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 06, 2015, from U.S. Library of Congress: http://countrystudies.us/iran/11.htm