1037–1194 CE
The Seljuk state, which emerged shortly after the Sultanate of Ghazni, made Iran one of the principal regions of its empire. This is evident, for example, in the succession of capitals — three of which (Ray, Hamadan, and Isfahan) are located in Iran. These cities were either rebuilt from ruins (Hamadan, also known as Ecbatana) or significantly developed under the new rulers.
Moreover, the Seljuks were a major political force of their time. Their controlled territories once again encompassed:
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Anatolia;
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the northern and southern parts of the Arabian Peninsula;
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95 % of Iran;
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Central Asia.
However, regions such as Algeria and Morocco — which had consistently been within the sphere of influence of their predecessors — were permanently lost under Seljuk rule.
Key rulers of this dynasty included:
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Alp‑Arslan;
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Malik‑Shah I;
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Mahmud;
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Mohammed I.
Cultural achievements
In addition to the continued development of architectural traditions, one of the most notable cultural phenomena was painting. The famous Persian miniature acquired distinctive features that persisted until the Mongol conquest and the subsequent intensified Chinese influence on Persian art.
Overall, visual art represented a symbiosis of Muslim Iranian tradition and traditional Turkic cultural elements. Popular pictorial themes included depictions of Turkic totemic animals and birds — particularly eagles and lions.
During this period, Persian calligraphy also flourished actively.
