SafavidPersiaB

=//** SAFAVID PERSIA **//=

Map of Empire Safavids Hi, I'm Safavid Persia! I like long walks on the beach, breakfast in bed, and conquering two to three countries per year. Some call me high maintenance, but I prefer to say that I'm a go-getter. Starting in the 13th century, my founders, the Mongols and Turks, conquered Persia; a land of many opportunities. They began killing the natives. Some people fled while others were subject to our rule. As they started to settle on my land, those who remained became serfs, our slaves. Taxing them greatly was a way to make money to fund our reforms. However, we took mercy on the peasants and decided to help them. To do so, we rebuilt their cities, encouraged agriculture and trade, and adopted Islam and the culture of Persia. Things started to get interesting when Timur the Lame came to power in 1370. He conquered regions such as India, Anatolia, and Syria. Previously, we were rural people, but now we have become nomads. One of our leaders, Shaykh Safi al-Din, practiced military, as well as religious, teachings. His followers were called Safavids, and they preached his authority. Even so, it was hard to assimilate the myriad of ethnic groups living in Iran. Shah Abbas, strengthened our military and invited foreign merchants to teach our merchants their ways. Weapons, advisers, potters, and slaves are some examples of the imported people and resources. Nevertheless, Abbas murdered religious groups, bringing chaos to Islam. His successors tried and failed to recreate his ruined administrative system. We eventually fell at the end of the 17th century. Our army and administration were destroyed, and various regional groups fought for power. Even with Nadir Shah's efforts to help us, Iran disintegrated into the powers of Europeans and Russians.

//**LIKES:**// Shah Abbas Timur the Lame Isfahan //**Economics:**// Silk Route
 * Shah Abbas
 * Timur the Lame
 * Shaykh Safi al-Din
 * Creating a capital city at Isfahan


 * Use of the Silk Route
 * Trade and commerce
 * Importation of slaves
 * Inviting foreign merchants to teach us their ways
 * Serfdom/taxing peasants

Laborers (serfs) in the fields

Safavid Court



//**Regions Expanded to:**// Syria //**Changes within Country:**// //**Migration Patterns:**//
 * Iran
 * Iraq
 * Armenia
 * Georgia
 * Syria
 * Anatolia
 * India
 * Forceful conversions of Jews and Zoroastrians to Islam
 * Becoming Westernized

//**DISLIKES:**// Nadir Shah //**Negative Changes:**// //**Challenges:**//
 * Nadir Shah
 * Army's loss of power
 * Central administration failing
 * Assertion of power from different people/region
 * Bringing together the various, diverse peoples of Iran
 * Making a monarchy (see above)

STATUS UPDATES:

1782: Life can be hard and cruel sometimes, but you can't let that defeat you. I'm working towards success, again. If you see me conquering cities or taxing people, you'll know that I'm back on top. Until then, au revoir....


 * Country || Date || Response ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||

~1736: Nadir Shah, a Turkish immigrant, just came to power. Sadly, his brilliance can't unify me. I am now divided and being distributed amongst Russians and Europeans.
 * Europe || 1737 || We conquered you! How does it feel to know that you’ve fallen? Now that we have gained control of your resources, we’ll use them to increase our wealth. :P ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||


 * China || 1736 || Russia may now have control over you, but we have a nice little treaty with the Russians. We’re doing trade with them and our economy is booming! ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||

End of 17th century: Our army and administration are falling apart; people are fighting for independence; and Iran is in disorder. What happened to our once-glorious country?
 * Iran || 1697 || Now your country is falling apart and people are rebelling, while we have fallen into disorder, chaos, and division. These times are tough, no? ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||


 * Mughals ( Aurangzeb) || 1689 || I am willing to make a deal with you: my empire and I will help your country if you let us control you. I want to expand Mughal borders. How do you feel about this? ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||


 * Russia || 1687 || Russia may now have control over you, but we have a nice little treaty with the Russians. We’re doing trade with them and our economy is booming! ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||

16th/17th centuries: Abbas has murdered competing religious groups. His successors are forcing Jews to convert to Islam, too, but even they can't unify this mess.


 * Country || Date || Response ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||

16th/17th centuries: I didn’t think it was possible, but Shah Abbas is //still// improving our country. He encourages trade and invites foreign merchants to teach our merchants.
 * China || 1664 || When do you want our merchants to come over? They’re very excited to help you out! ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Africa || 1548 || <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">We received your request for more slaves. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee “… the strongest men. We need hard, intense laborers”, as stated in your letter. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Like || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Comment || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Report ||

16th/17th centuries: Shah Abbas has been strengthening my military. To do so, he acquired European weapons and resources. He also imported slaves and built a grand capital at Isfahan. 13th/14th centuries: Shaykh Safi al-Din’s teachings have been accepted by many. His followers are Safavids. They say he is the messiah that we have been waiting for, Shi’ite of Muslims. 1370: All praise Timur the Lame! He is a wonderful ruler who is rapidly expanding me. The Mongol and Turkish invaders, once rural people, are becoming nomads. End of 13th century: Assimilating Persia, rebuilding cities, supporting trade, and adopting Islam are on the top of the to-do list. Persia should be the best country possible. 13th century: I have been conquered by the Mongols and Turks! They are currently working on repopulating and settling the land. Many people fled from me. They'll tax the peasants to compensate.
 * Country || Date || Response ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||
 * Country || Date || Response ||
 * Like || Comment || Report ||
 * Mongols || 1371 || Being nomads has advantages. We can easily attack you now. Watch your precious little country. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Like || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Comment || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Report ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ottomans || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Date || <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Word around the seaports is that you enjoy trade. Would you be interested in trading with us? Or, better yet, house some of our merchants so they can teach you? ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Like || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Comment || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Report ||
 * Iraq || 1252 || Gee, thanks for making us relocate! If you weren't so harsh, maybe we would have stayed..... now, your country will probably suffer without us. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Like || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Comment || <span style="font-family: Calibri; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Report ||