Iran in the 16th–18th centuries

At the end of the 15th century Iran was split into independent territories. Ismail, head of the Safavid order based in Ardabil, took Tabriz in 1501–1502, proclaimed himself shahanshah and founded the Safavid state (capital Tabriz). To strengthen the state he restricted hereditary land grants and strengthened the tiyul system. Under Shah Abbas I (1587–1629) the state became most powerful: the capital moved to Isfahan, a regular army was formed, the tax system was put in order, and caravanserais and irrigation works were built. In the 18th century the growth of tiyul lands cut treasury income, taxes rose and peasants were ruined. In 1722 the Afghan leader Mir Mahmud took Isfahan. Nader Quli defeated the Afghans and in 1736 became shah as Nader Shah, ending the Safavid dynasty; he made great campaigns, took Delhi in 1739 and was killed in 1747. The Zands (1750–1794) then ruled, and in 1796 the Qajar dynasty (Agha Muhammad) took power and the capital moved to Tehran; the dynasty ruled until 1925. In culture the Shah Mosque in Isfahan, miniature painting and poets such as Saib Tabrizi are famous.