Latest / The Safavid Empire: Persia's Return to Greatness — Fexingo History
The Safavid Coffeehouse: Politics and Poetry in Isfahan
In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the vibrant world of Safavid coffeehouses, or qahveh-khaneh, which became the beating heart of public life in Isfahan and other Persian cities under Shah Abbas I. These establishments, which first appeared in the early 1500s, were far more than places to drink coffee. They served as informal forums for political debate, literary recitation, and religious discussion — often monitored by the shah's spies (savaran-e khabar). The hosts discuss the role of the coffeehouse in spreading Safavid propaganda, the rise of storytelling (naqqali) and performance of…
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