Ahmad Guliyev. Safavids in Venetian and European Sources (2022)

Ahmad Guliyev. Safavids in Venetian and European Sources. Series: “Hilâl. Studi turchi e ottomani 9”. Venice: Edizioni Ca’ Foscari, 2022, X+116 p. ISBN 9788869695926, ISBN 9788869695933

Abstract

The emergence of the Safavid Empire in the early sixteenth century marked a significant change in the geopolitics of the Middle East. This momentous change coincided with the widening of Ottoman expansion eastward and the exploration by European powers, especially by Venice, of the possibilities of forming alliances against the Ottomans with the involvement of the Safavids. Thus, Ottoman threat and commercial interests contributed to the emergence and development of diplomatic, cultural, and trade relations between the Republic of Venice and the Safavid Empire, which lasted until the end of the seventeenth century. Drawing on the documents from the Venetian State Archives and other contemporary sources, this book focuses mainly on some aspects of Safavid diplomacy, including the language of the Safavid polity, the role of European subjects as interpreters for the shahs, material and visual characteristics of Safavid diplomatic letters to Venice, the attitude of the Safavids towards resident diplomacy, the reception of the European envoys in the Safavid court and Europeans’ perception of Safavid diplomatic practices, as well as the characteristics of the Safavid embassies to Venice. We have tried to explain the role of Turkish as a language of diplomacy and communication in Safavid-Venetian encounters. We have also attempted to explore briefly how the Venetians distinguished Safavid subjects according to their ethno-linguistic affiliations. Finally, we examine the Ottoman factor in Safavid-Venetian relations in order to establish to what extent, if any, the Ottomans had an impact on the overall character of Safavid-Venetian relations.

Ahmad Guliyev is a Leading Researcher and Associate Professor at the Institute of History of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Former Marie Curie Fellow at Ca’ Foscari University Venice, he conducted research within the project titled SAFVEN. West Meets East in Venice: Cross-Cultural Interactions and Reciprocal Influences Between the Safavids and Venetians. He is an author of articles, one edited volume, and a monograph devoted to various aspects of the Safavid history, especially on the Safavid-Ottoman relations, diplomatic relations between the Safavid state and European powers, and Anglophone historiography of the Safavid history.

Table of Contents

Introduction … 3
1. Language and Translation at the Safavid Court … 5
2. Safavid Letters to Venice … 19
3. The Nature of Safavid Diplomacy … 33
4. Safavid Subjects in Venice … 57
5. The Safavid-Ottoman Gift Exchanges Through the Eyes of the Venetians … 61
6. The Ottoman Factor in Safavid-Venetian Relations … 71
Appendices … 81
Archives and Sources … 103