Carpet Weaving in the Safavid Era
摘要
In this chapter, we will focus on one of the masterpieces of Iranian art, i.e., carpets from the Safavid era (r. 1501–1736 CE). Many scholars and historians contend that the Safavid era is consistently regarded as one of the most magnificent and powerful national-religious governments with centralized authority in the history of Iran. During this period, the establishment of modern governmental infrastructures across various political, economic, and cultural domains profoundly transformed the social life of Safavid society. In Safavid social life, economy and trade elements, along with executive infrastructures, played a crucial role, and were primary priorities in the macro-policies of the Safavid monarchs. The notable capacities within the carpet industry, alongside centers for producing raw materials such as silk, linen, and cotton, as well as producing high-quality carpets in the weaving workshops of the era’s economic centers, created the necessary conditions for activating strategic carpet trade.