An Analytical Study of the Intellectual and Ideological Principles of the Safavid Movement with Reliance upon the Asia Minor Orders

According to the historians، the Safavid dynasty was the pioneer of the Shī‘ī ideology against the official rule of the Ottoman Empire in Eastern countries. The Safavid Empire in Iran came into being by the mutual assistance of the Qizilbāsh troops rising form the geopolitics of Asia Minor. What is of importance، however، is the attitude and beliefs of these supporting troops of the Safavid order. The research findings suggest that Asia Minor، due to its political and economical problems، has always been recognized as a significant center for promulgation of schools and orders. Therefore، the people residing in this region have for several centuries been exposed to the proselytization and the movements affiliated to such schools as the Babism (Bābiyya)، Baktashites (Baktāshiyya)، the Literalists (Ḥurūfiyya)، etc. The forces supporting the Safavid discourse (Qizilbāshs) stood in the center of these trends and، finally، established a state with a Shī‘a orientation after marginalizing the Ak Koyunlu rule in Iran. Relying on the geographical dispersion of the Qizilbāsh، this research touches upon the intellectual layers of Asia Minor to display the impact of various ideas، schools، and orders on the mind-set of the people of Asia Minor، especially the Qizilbashs.