Shah Abbas: The King Who Refashioned Iran

SHAH ʻABBAS (1571-1629) is the most well-known king of Iran's Safavid dynasty (1501-1722), ruling at the height of its power and prestige. When Shah 'Abbas came to power his country was in chaos. Yet within eleven years he had regained territory lost to his enemies, moved his capital city and begun a transformation of Iranian society. Few aspects of life were unaffected by his policies and the new capital he built, the spectacular Isfahan, is still referred to as nisf-i jahan, or "half the ...