| * Boldface
titles indicate works in the anthology. |
TEXTS
|
CONTEXTS
|
|
16th century The leading poets of the time leave Iran for the
more hospitable courts of India and central Asia
|
1502
Shah Ismâ'il founds the Safavid Dynasty, which
rules Iran until 1732. The Safavids make Shi'ism
the official faith of Iran and defend Iran's borders
against the Ottomans to the west and the Özbegs to
the northeast |
| |
1520–1566
During Sultan Suleymân's reign, the Ottomans
add Hungary to their empire, besiege Vienna, and engage
the Portuguese navy in the Indian Ocean |
1611–1684 Evliya Çelebi,
who decides at about age 25 to devote his life to travel
and begins to work on the Book of Travels
|
1589–1629
Shah Abbâs creates the splendid architectural monuments
that still survive in Isfahan and establishes diplomatic
contacts with Europe
1683 The second unsuccessful siege of Vienna marks the limits of
Ottoman power and heralds its decline
|
|
1720–1730 The Ottomans make their first attempts at
Westernization, importing a printing press
|
1726 The Safavids are defeated by the Turkoman, Nader Shah,
founder of the Afshar Dynasty, which rules Iran until 1795
|
| |
1729 Nader Shah sacks Delhi, further weakening the Mughals
|
| |
1750
Karim Khân Zand takes control of Iran from the last
Afshar and establishes a dynasty that rules Iran until
1779 |
|
1757–1790 Sheyh Galip, the last great master of Ottoman court
poetry
|
1779–1924 The Qajars under Agha Muhammad Khan gradually take
control of Iran from the Zands; they will rule into the modern period
|
| |
1798 Napoleon invades Egypt, marking the beginning of the modern
period in the Middle East
|
 |
|
