When was Abbas the Great born and where did he grow up?
Abbas the Great was born on the 27th of January 1571 in the city of Herat. He spent his early childhood there before being separated from his parents at eighteen months old.
Questions about Abbas the Great
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How did Shah Abbas the Great build a new military force to counter Qizilbash power?
Shah Abbas the Great created a standing army using ghulams who were slave-soldiers from Georgia Circassia and Armenia. This force included fifteen thousand cavalrymen twelve thousand musketeers and twelve thousand artillerymen loyal only to him.
What major cities did Shah Abbas the Great capture during his wars against Uzbeks and Ottomans?
Shah Abbas the Great recaptured Mashhad in April 1598 and later took Tabriz Yerevan and Balkh from Ottoman and Uzbek control. His forces also expelled Portuguese forces from Hormuz in 1622 with help from English ships.
Why did Shah Abbas the Great move the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan in 1598?
Shah Abbas the Great moved the capital to Isfahan to create a more central location for his empire and to embellish it with mosques baths colleges and caravansarais. The city became the center of Safavid architectural achievement including Naqsh-e Jahan Square.
When did Shah Abbas the Great die and what was the cause of his death?
Shah Abbas the Great died in 1629 at the palace Farahabad on the Caspian coast after suffering poor health since 1621. He was buried in Kashan following his reign which marked the peak of the Safavid dynasty.