Unit 6 Mughal Safavid Empires

​Unit 6
Safavid & Mughal Empires

By Rhonda Tharp

​Compare & Contrast the Mughal Empire to the Safavid Empire.

What were their economies based on and what achievements did they have in the 1500 - 1700s?

Draw

Draw circles to best represent the location of the Safavid Empire and the Mughal Empire.

1500 - 1700s

Theocratic Monarchy with the Shah as their political & religious leader

Through force, they persuaded the people the leaders were divine

Shah Abbas fostered trade and increased prosperity; golden age of art and architecture

​Safavid Empire

1500 - 1700s

The Mughal Empire had a highly centralized Imperial Monarchy (Emperor)

Civil Workers & Military were paid with land grants but land is not passed down through heredity

There was a hierarchy of officers for collecting taxes

​Mughal Empire

Mughal (India) & Safavid (Iran/Persia)

Multiple Choice

True or False: Both the Mughal and Safavid Empires existed around the same time (1500s-1700s).

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: The Safavid Empire was a Sultanate/Monarchy (had an Emperor) and the Mughal Empire was a theocracy (led by religious leaders).

• True

• False

Multiple Select

How was the Safavid social (and political) structure DIFFERENT from the Mughal structure? (Mark all that apply)

• Safavids were ruled by a religious leader

• Safavids did not have merchants or artisans

• Safavids had a religious elite and tribal clans

• Safavids had a rigid caste system like the Hindus

Multiple Choice

Safavids and Mughals' social structures were SIMILAR because they both had

• merchants/ artisans

• naval officers

• women and children in a separate category

• caste systems based on Hindu religion

Resources & Economy

Relied on farming & the Silk Road

Caravan trade routes, especially the Silk Road

Silk

Textiles, ceramics, carpets, rugs

Artisan crafts

​Safavid Empire

Relied on farming & trade

Had extensive trade networks

Silk & spices

Textiles

Handcrafts & tools

Mughal Empire

Multiple Choice

True or False: Both empires relied heavily on the Silk Road and other trade routes for their economies.

• True

• False

Open Ended

How do you suppose the Safavid's and Mughal's locations helped them build strong economies based on trade?

​Achievements

Mughal Achievements

Efficient, organized political structure

Art & architecture - Taj Mahal

Brief religious tolerance

Standardized currency

Extensive road system

Combined Persian & Hindi languages to make Urdu language

Safavid Achievements

Powerful centralized state with strong military

Art & architecture - geometric designs

Established Shi'ism as state religion

Poetry, philosophy, literature

Flourishing economy based on ceramics, silk and carpet weaving

​Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Safavid Architecture

Isfahan, Iran

Multiple Choice

True or False: The Mughals and Safavids both experienced major developments of the arts and architectural styles.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

True or False: Geometric designs in architecture was primarily used in the Moghul Empire.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The Taj Mahal is considered an architectural achievement for the ___ Empire.

• Ottoman

• Safavid

• Mughal

​Other Differences Between the Two

The Safavid Empire had no natural defenses (mountains, major land forms) and they had no navy.

The Safavid established Shi'ism as the state religion, which still plays a role in the Middle East today.

The Sunni Muslims took over in the 1700s and the Safavids lost territory to the Ottomans and Russia.

Taxation & inflation of silver also caused their fall.

​The Mughals were Muslim and had to live among the Sikhs & Hindus and their Caste System.

Mughal Muslims had their own social hierarchy.

Moghul Sultan (emperor) Akbar tried to unite Muslims and Hindus, as well as Sikhs and Christians.

But in 1620 the religious leader (Shah) destroyed all the Hindu and Sikh temples and shrines. The Shah did not have the military support and he was unable to stay in power. This led to Mughal decline.

Open Ended

Why do you suppose the citizens under Mughal rule only had a "brief" time period where they had religious tolerance? (between the ruling Muslims, the Hindus, Sikhs and Christians)?

Multiple Choice

What kind of government did the Safavids have?

• Monarchy

• Democracy

• Theocracy

• Kleptocracy

Open Ended

Why do you suppose the citizens of the Safavid Empire did not experience "religious tolerance" of others?

Open Ended

In 2 sentences, explain how the Safavids and Mughals were similar. In 2 sentences, explain how they were different.