SafavidOttoman

The Safavid-Ottoman relations refer to the diplomatic, military, and cultural interactions between the Safavid Empire and the Ottoman Empire, two major powers in the Middle East and Central Asia during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Safavids, who ruled Iran from 1501 to 1736, and the Ottomans, who ruled over a vast territory in the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Middle East from 1299 to 1922, had a complex and often tense relationship.

The Safavids were Shia Muslims, while the Ottomans were Sunni Muslims. This religious difference, along with territorial disputes, led to frequent conflicts between the two empires. The most significant of these was the Ottoman-Safavid War (1578-1590), which resulted in the Safavids' defeat and the loss of significant territories.

Despite these conflicts, there were also periods of cooperation and cultural exchange. The Safavids and Ottomans shared a common enemy in the Uzbeks, and they sometimes worked together to counter this threat. Additionally, there were instances of cultural and intellectual exchange between the two empires.

The Safavid-Ottoman relations ended with the collapse of the Safavid Empire in the early 18th century. The Ottoman Empire, which had expanded significantly during the Safavid-Ottoman Wars, continued to exert influence in the region, eventually leading to the establishment of the modern state of Iran.