In 1466, the Aq Qoyunlu, or White Sheep Turkmen, overpowered the Qara Qoyunlu, or Black Sheep Turkmen, gaining control of the region. This shift in power was followed by the rise of the Safavids, who eventually defeated the White Sheep Turkmen and assumed control over Mesopotamia. The Safavid dynasty, ruling from 1501 to 1736, was one of Iran's most significant dynasties. They governed from 1501 to 1722, with a brief restoration between 1729 to 1736 and from 1750 to 1773.

At the height of their power, the Safavid Empire encompassed not only modern-day Iran but also extended to Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Armenia, eastern Georgia, parts of the North Caucasus (including regions within Russia), Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and sections of Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This expansive control made the Safavid dynasty a major power in the region, influencing the cultural and political landscape of a vast territory.