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The Persian Safavid Empire with Tiago Neiva

The Persian Safavid Empire with Tiago Neiva


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Between the fourteenth and nineteenth centuries, three Islamic dynasties–the Ottomans, the Safavids, and the Mughals–established themselves in three particular areas of Asia. Bordering each other, their domains covered, at their peak, a continuous territory ranging from Morocco to South India. These included geographies and cultures such as the Balkans, Maghreb, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. They became the origin of three future modern nations: Turkey, Iran, and India.

Known as the three Islamic Gunpowder Empires, due to the profuse (and very innovative) strategic use of firearms on the battlefield, their political, economic, and military relevance placed them at the level of the most powerful Western nations. From the perspective of Islamic history, they became part of the second political and cultural flowering of the Islamic world, after the hegemony (and subsequent decay) of the Islamic Golden Age, in the medieval period.

Led by an expert on Islamic architecture and art history, Tiago Miranda Neiva, this seminar will cover the Safavid dynasty, from its origin as a small Sufi movement in the Caucasus, to its rise to the most significant Persian dynasty, responsible for the introduction of Shīʿism as the official state religion. At its peak of power, Safavids unify most of the traditional Persian world and lead it to the future construction of the modern state of Iran.

Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased knowledge of the early modern Islamic history, in particular, the political, religious, economic, and social dimensions and the legacy of the Persian Safavid Empire. In a parallel session, there will be a seminar exploring their cultural, architectural, and artistic achievements.

This conversation is part of a six-part series on the Gunpowder Empires with Tiago Miranda Neiva. Each session is designed as a stand-alone seminar as well as part of a six-part series.

Tiago Miranda Neiva was born and raised in Lisbon. He studied architecture in Rome and worked later in distinct offices in Portugal and Spain. For several years he was Professor of Arts and Art History, having a Master's degree in Teaching of Visual Arts. He is currently working towards a PhD focused on the Art and Architecture of al-Andalus: the confluence between the Arab, Jewish and Christian medieval world. In recent years he has been working as a tour guide in his hometown, seeking to show and reveal its most intimate secrets through an authentic and passionate local vision.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Dr Neiva oves the topic, knows a lot about it, and it shows

Guest did not leave comment

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Anonymous (Orinda, US)

Guest did not leave comment

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Tina Lundberg (Etterbeek, BE)
Same and different

Yet another interesting talk by Tiago. I particularly appreciated the way he would compare the Safavid Empire and the Ottoman one, pointing out the similarities and the differences. Very useful for someone who is struggling to learn about both. Also how relevant historic rulers were made distinct with a few characteristics about each of them. Good job!

H
Helen Smith (Katy, US)
Learned so much

Clear outline of lecture and useful chronologies provided context understanding. Especially interesting were the connections with surrounding peoples and cultures as well as contacts with the wider world.

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
100%
(4)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
K
Kris Shapar (Stuttgart, DE)
Dr Neiva oves the topic, knows a lot about it, and it shows

Guest did not leave comment

A
Anonymous (Orinda, US)

Guest did not leave comment

T
Tina Lundberg (Etterbeek, BE)
Same and different

Yet another interesting talk by Tiago. I particularly appreciated the way he would compare the Safavid Empire and the Ottoman one, pointing out the similarities and the differences. Very useful for someone who is struggling to learn about both. Also how relevant historic rulers were made distinct with a few characteristics about each of them. Good job!

H
Helen Smith (Katy, US)
Learned so much

Clear outline of lecture and useful chronologies provided context understanding. Especially interesting were the connections with surrounding peoples and cultures as well as contacts with the wider world.