Effects case study 2 — effects of the Ottoman–Safavid Wars
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Flip to reveal answersWhich treaty ended the Ottoman–Safavid Wars in 1639?
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Question
Which treaty ended the Ottoman–Safavid Wars in 1639?
Answer
The Treaty of Zuhab (also called Qasr-e Shirin), which fixed the roughly modern Iraq–Iran border.
Question
What happened to Baghdad under the 1639 settlement?
Answer
Baghdad remained part of the Ottoman Empire after Murad IV recaptured it in 1638.
Question
Why is the 1639 border historically important?
Answer
It proved remarkably durable — it still roughly marks the modern Iraq–Iran boundary.
Question
Political effect: how did the wars affect the two empires' other frontiers?
Answer
Resources were diverted — the Ottomans were distracted from Europe and the Safavids from their eastern frontier.
Question
What was the main religious effect of the wars on Persia?
Answer
Twelver Shia Islam was consolidated as the state religion of Safavid Persia, hardening the Sunni–Shia divide.
Question
Sunni vs Shia: which empire championed which branch?
Answer
The Ottomans championed Sunni Islam (sultan as caliph); the Safavids built their state around Twelver Shia Islam.
Question
Economic effect on trade
Answer
The silk and east–west trade routes running through the contested borderlands were repeatedly disrupted.
Question
What happened to the frontier provinces?
Answer
Border regions like Iraq, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus were devastated by repeated campaigns; both treasuries were drained by military spending.
Question
How did Shah Abbas I cause population displacement?
Answer
Through scorched-earth forced resettlement — e.g. relocating the Armenians of Julfa deep into Persia to deny resources to the Ottomans.
Question
Who was Shah Abbas I and when did he reign?
Answer
The most powerful Safavid shah, reigning 1588–1629, known for military reform and scorched-earth resettlement policies.
Question
What is the 'gunpowder empires' significance of the wars?
Answer
The wars drained both Ottoman and Safavid empires, weakening these gunpowder empires ahead of their later decline (Safavids collapsed in the 1720s).
Question
Paper 2 essay structure for 'effects' questions
Answer
Group effects into themes (territorial, political, religious, economic, demographic, long-term), quote one fact each, and end with a judgement on which mattered most.
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Full study notes for Effects case study 2 — effects of the Ottoman–Safavid Wars
Topic 11.3 hub
Effects of conflicts
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