The brilliant Safavid era (c. 1500–1720) witnessed the birth of modern Iran. Its capital, Isfahan, with its exquisite pavilions set amongst splendid parks and gardens, vast bazaars, and wonderful mosques remains one of the most dazzling and perfectly preserved cities of the Islamic world. Often dismissed as a period of widespread poverty and corruption, it is during the nineteenth century rule of the Qajar dynasty, that Persian art and architecture broke away from many of their earlier constraints, and the foundations of contemporary Iran were established.

DELIVERY MODE

• Face-to-Face

SUGGESTED READING

• M. Axworthy, Empire of the Mind. A History of Iran, London 2000. ISBN: 9780141036298
• S. R. Canby, The Golden Age of Persian Art 1501-1722, British Museum Press 1999. ISBN: 0714124044
• G. Garthwaite, The Persians, Blackwell 2007. ISBN: 9781405156806
• S. Kinzer, All the Shah’s Men, John Wiley 2003. ISBN: 0471678783
• H. Rossiter, Sweet Boy Dear Wife: Jane Dieulafoy in Persia 1881–1886, Sydney 2015. ISBN: 9781743053782

COURSE OUTLINE

• The development of Persian Islamic art
• The rise of the Safavid dynasty and its fall
• An exploration of Safavid Isfahan, arguably the finest extant Islamic city
• European influences in 19th century (Qajar) Persian art
• The exploitation by the West of Iran during the Qajar period

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Gain an introduction to early Persian Islamic art.
2. Explore the superb art and architecture of later Islamic Iran.
3. Improve their understanding of the problems (and their causes) between the west and Iran.