Dynasty·Later empires
Safavid Dynasty Makes Shia Islam the State Religion of Iran
- Date
- 1501 CE907 AH525 years ago
- Place
- Tabriz, Iran
- People
- Ismail I
Ismail I, a young Safavid leader, took Tabriz in 1501 CE and proclaimed himself shah. He made Twelver Shia Islam the state religion. The Safavids converted much of Iran to Shia Islam, sometimes by force, and invited Shia scholars from Arab lands to teach. Iran's Shia identity, which sets it apart from its Sunni neighbors, dates largely from this period.
Why it matters
The Safavid conversion made Shia Islam the religion of Iran and shaped the country's rivalry with the Ottoman Empire.