The Study and Critique of the Safavid Court Poetry

After centuries of chaos and turmoil and tribal conflicts in Iran caused by the invasions of Arabs, Turks and Mongols, Safavids restored peace and unity in the country by establishing a long-lasting dynasty and expanding the borders and the language. The interest of the Safavid kings in Persian culture and literature and their competition with Ottoman kings and the Indian court made them to keep company with poets, religious leaders and artists. The literature and culture developed considerably during the Safavid era. When the ideology of Shiism was formalized, Safavids made their way into different walks of life. Therefore, Persian literature was given a privileged position. Influenced by the Teimurians era; the poets were supported by the court as it was the case in previous eras but not as a decorative and propaganda tool. Poetry became widespread among ordinary people and remained popular in the Safavid court. Yet it lost its flattering purpose as it got social, political and religious dimensions. This study deals with the poets, the content of their poems and the link of the poems with the Safavids court.