Safavids in Venetian and European Sources

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