(1502–1736) Persian dynasty.
It was founded by Abbās I (r. 1588–1629) brought the dynasty to its peak; his capital, Esfahān , was the centre of Ṣafavid architectural achievement. The dynasty declined in the century following his reign, pressed by the {{link=Ottoman Empire">Ottoman Empire and the Mughal dynasty , and fell when a weak shah, Ṭahmāsp II, was deposed by his general, Nādir Shah .