Half the World: The Social Architecture of Safavid Isfahan, 1590-1722

by Stephen P. Blake

Genres: History

206 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jindřich Zapletal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. In a large hardcover format, it briefly outlines the history of the Safavid dynasty, it includes a scholarly argument on the date of the move of their capital to Isfahan, and then proceeds to a discussion of the urban environment of 17th century Isfahan. The discussion covers the planning and urban layout with many clear maps as well as specific buildings including their architecture, purpose, and the story of their patrons/builders. The author provides numerous own translations of primary Safavid sources. There are many large reproductions of copperplates from travelogues of Western visitors--some of them copied from original sketches as in the case of Le Bruyn, others probably drawn second hand from oral descriptions of the travelers, as in the case of Chardin. There are no modern photographs as this would intrude on the exquisite scholarly style of the book. The only relevant thing I needed to find elsewhere was a discussion of the local environment and geography of Isfahan, but this is not difficult to do.

The book is a great piece of scholarship and makes for exciting reading at the same time. My highest recommendation.