Critical Investigation on Policy Making of Science in Safavid Era

Regarding the role of science in relation to the prosperity of human society, the historical and civilizational experiences can be applicable in the policies and scientific plans developed by the policy makers and statesmen. Safavid government with its intellectual, cultural and religious inheritance is considered as one of the most important historical era for these kinds of investigations due to its relative temporal proximity with the present time. Relying on the analytical-descriptive approach and taking advantage of the historical sources including general and dynastic histories, travel books and biographies, this research is to discover the weak and strong points of policies and scientific diplomacies in Safavid government. The findings of this research clarify that, the initiation of changes such as the propagation of Shiite-Islamic culture, the protection of intellectual and religious principles, the consideration of social needs are regarded as the strong points and the civilizational and scientific cessation, lack of dynamism and innovation, not taking advantage of modern apparatus and methods of education and research, not taking a favorable advantage of scientific achievements, not avoiding from the migration of scientists are considered as the most important weak points of scientific policies of this era