Rulers and Religious Changes in Azerbaijan (From the Fall of the Ilkhanids till the Rise of the Safavids)

Subject Areas : The Journal of Islamic History and Civilisation

مهدی Ebadi ¹ (ندارد)

Received: 2009-12-16 Accepted : 2010-02-07 Published : 2010-02-20

Keywords: Azerbaijan, Shi‘ism development, the Chupanids, the&#x0D, &#x0D, Jalayirids, the Qara Quyunlu, the Aq Quyunlu,

Abstract :

Due to different political, social and religious developments, from thefall of the Ilkhanids till the rise of the Safavids, majority of Sunnitesbegan to decrease in Iran, and therefore Azerbaijan. By the time of theestablishment of the Safavids, Azerbaijan was more susceptible to thisreligious shift. Apart from these developments, Azerbaijan’s rulers atthis time did not adopt fanatic policies to support Sunnites.Furthermore, the Jalayirids and the Qara Quyunlu indicated unanimitywith Shi‘ites to the extent that they are considered as Shi’ite states.Presenting an image of the course of religious developments inAzerbaijan, this article is to clarify the formation of backgrounds ofthis religious shift in Azerbaijan of that time.