In AD 1501 Isma’il, head of the native Iranian Safavid dynasty, defeated the Turkmans who had controlled western Iran for over 50 years. Shah Isma’il united the former Turkman lands and those of the Timurids in eastern Iran under one flag. Despite constant threat to Iran’s borders, the Safavids maintained the unity of Iran and the country enjoyed a period of prosperity. During the first 150 years of Safavid rule the level of artistic production was exceptionally high, as can be seen in surviving examples of carpets, textiles, illustrated books and tiles.

The fifth Safavid shah, ‘Abbas I (reigned 1587-1629), moved the capital to Isfahan in central Iran and commissioned the construction of some of its famous mosques, palaces and gardens. He also greatly expanded commercial ties with Europe. In order to facilitate trade, a network of caravanserais (travellers’ inns) was erected across the country, each inn at an interval of about a day’s journey – approximately 25 kilometers – along the major trade routes. Isfahan alone had over 200 caravanserais.

In 1722 Isfahan was attacked and taken by invaders from Afghanistan. The last Safavid shah, Husayn, abdicated to the invaders, who took control over their domain.