The longest-lasting Shia dynasty since the Arab conquest of Iran some eight hundred years earlier, established in northern Iran in 1501 by a Sufi master, Ismail Safavi. Their rule lasted to 1765. In their early days, they successfully resisted pressure from the Ottoman (Sunni) Empire; later, they collapsed under the combined pressure of Russian and Ottoman power.
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- Safavid Empire 1502 - 1736 An account of the dynasty, their roots in opposition to the Al Khanids, their adherence to Shia belief and practice, and their decline. Includes a list of rulers and dates.
- Safavids A summary view of the Iranian dynasty who ruled Iran and Iraq from 1501-1736, and their conflict with the Sunni Ottoman Empire.
- The Safavids A history of the dynasty, with a focus on their art and culture; includes illustrations.
- BBC - The Safavid Empire (1501 - 1722) An account of the empire, based in what is today Iran, and strong enough to challenge the Ottomans in the west and the Mughals in the east.