Cultural Policies of Shah Abbas I: A Historical-Political Analysis of Safavid Iran

Authors

    Mahtab Akbari Department of Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
    Ali Sharifinezhad * Department of Political Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran Sharifinezhaddrali@gmail.com
    Mojtaba Naderi Kachlam Department of Political Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Keywords:

Safavids, Shah Abbas I, cultural policy, Twelver Shi'ism, political legitimacy, Iranian identity, Isfahan, Islamic architecture, state-building

Abstract

This article explores the cultural policies of Shah Abbas I by analyzing their ideological, social, and symbolic dimensions within the historical context of the Safavid era. Using a descriptive-analytical method and based on both primary sources and reputable secondary studies, the research investigates how cultural policies served as a strategic tool for state-building and the reconstruction of Iranian national-religious identity. The findings indicate that Shah Abbas I, through promoting Shi'i religious institutions and clerics, reconstructing the city of Isfahan, organizing religious rituals, and advancing Shi'i arts such as tilework, architecture, and calligraphy, created a new cultural-religious order that institutionalized the legitimacy of the Safavid absolute monarchy. Furthermore, the promotion of the Persian language and Shi'i literature contributed to the formation of a cohesive cultural identity that replaced former tribal and sectarian structures. The article also reveals that these policies, while enhancing political cohesion and centralization, led to the suppression of rival cultural currents such as Sufis and Sunnis, fostering cultural homogeneity at the expense of religious and ethnic diversity. A discourse analysis of Safavid cultural politics—through architecture, official texts, and rituals—demonstrates the deep interconnection between Shi'i ideology, public culture, and political power. The study concludes by suggesting that a comparative analysis with the Qajar and Pahlavi periods could provide deeper insights into the evolution of cultural policymaking in Iranian history.

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References

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Published

2024-12-21

Submitted

2024-10-26

Revised

2024-11-29

Accepted

2024-12-15

Issue

Section

مقالات

How to Cite

Akbari, M., Sharifinezhad, A., & Naderi Kachlam, M. (2024). Cultural Policies of Shah Abbas I: A Historical-Political Analysis of Safavid Iran. Iranian Political History Research Journal, 2(4), 58-72. https://iphrj.com/index.php/iphrj/article/view/20

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