Safavid Women Writers and the Hidden Literary Culture of Isfahan

The Safavid Empire: Persia's Return to Greatness — Fexingo History · Jul 23, 2026 · 9m

This episode turns to a lesser-known corner of Safavid cultural life: women poets and writers in 17th-century Isfahan. While the court of Shah Abbas I is famous for its architecture and silk, a small circle of literate women produced poetry, travel writing, and religious commentary — often in a climate that discouraged female education. We explore figures like Zib al-Nisa, the daughter of Shah Soleyman who wrote Sufi-inspired verse under the pen name Makhfi; the scholarly sisters who maintained libraries in their homes; and the European travellers such as Jean Chardin who recorded their…