When was Shah Abbas the Great born and where did he grow up?
Abbas the Great was born on the 27th of January 1571 in Herat. He spent his childhood in Herat under constant threat of execution before ascending to the throne.
Questions about Abbas the Great
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Shah Abbas the Great reorganize the Safavid military?
Abbas the Great created a standing army of 40,000 soldiers including 10,000 to 15,000 cavalry, 12,000 musketeers, and 12,000 artillerymen. He recruited ethnic Georgians and Circassians as ghulams to counterbalance the power of the Qizilbash tribes.
What major cities did Shah Abbas the Great capture from the Ottomans and Uzbeks?
Abbas the Great recaptured Herat and Mashhad from the Uzbeks in 1598 and 1599. He later seized Baghdad in 1623 and Yerevan in June 1604 from the Ottoman Empire.
Why did Shah Abbas the Great move the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan?
Abbas the Great moved the capital to Isfahan in 1598 to create a more central and secure location for the Safavid Empire. He transformed Isfahan into a magnificent city featuring the Masjed-e Shah and the Naqsh-e Jahan Square.
How did Shah Abbas the Great establish diplomatic relations with European powers?
Abbas the Great sent his first diplomatic mission to Europe in 1599 to seek alliances against the Ottoman Empire. He invited English adventurers Sir Anthony Shirley and Robert Shirley to reorganize the Iranian army and granted trading rights to the English East India Company.
When did Shah Abbas the Great die and who succeeded him?
Abbas the Great died at his palace in Farahabad on the Caspian coast in 1629. He was succeeded by his grandson Sam Mirza who took the name Shah Safi at the age of 17.