THE END OF THE SAFAVID EMPIRE: ITS IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR ISLAM IN THE PERSIAN REGION (1628-1736)

Abstract

Islamic civilization in the medieval period was a complex and turbulent period. This period is often described as a period of decline compared to the glory of the previous Islamic Golden Age. It was a roller coaster period, where there was a period of glory during the emergence of three ruling empires, namely the Ottoman Empire in Turkey, the Safavid Empire in Persia, and the Mughal Empire in India. However, the Safavid Empire declined and collapsed after the change of leadership from Shah Abbas I to the next six kings from 1628-1736 who ruled in succession. There were several factors that directly or indirectly contributed to the decline and destruction of the Safavid Kingdom, which had implications for the future of Islam in the Persian region. This research aims to reveal the process of decline and destruction of the Safavid Kingdom, find out the factors that caused the decline and destruction of the Safavid Kingdom, and find out its impact on the future of Islamic civilization in the Persian region. The method used in writing this article is by using the historical research method through four stages. The stages are heuristics, criticism (external and internal), interpretation, and the last is writing or historical reconstruction (historiography). This study concluded that the process of decline and destruction of the Safavid Kingdom took place gradually and took a long time from 1628-1736 which was successively ruled by six kings. The factors that led to the decline and destruction of the Safavid Kingdom were complex and interrelated. However, there was a direct contributing factor to the destruction of the Safavid Empire, namely the Aghan invasion of the capital Isfahan in 1722. The decline and destruction of the Safavid Empire had a significant impact on the future of Islam in the Persian region which stagnated until a new power emerged to replace it.