Isfahan flourishes as capital

Timeline

1. 1611–1619Naqsh-e Jahan Square · IsfahanIn the 1610s, the shah continued perfecting buildings around Naqsh-e Jahan Square: the Imam Mosque, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and Ali Qapu Palace were successively completed or decorated, making the square the core space for parades, bazaars, and religious ceremonies, showcasing the peak of Safavid architectural aesthetics.
2. 1610Chahar Bagh Avenue · IsfahanThe Chahar Bagh tree-lined avenue along the Zayandeh River connected royal gardens and palaces; hydraulic and transport works like the Si-o-se-pol and Khaju bridges ensured the city's water supply and passage, forming an axially symmetric urban layout, one of the grandest capital landscapes in the Islamic world at the time.
3. 1610Isfahan bazaar · IsfahanThe square's surroundings and the Grand Bazaar attracted Armenian, Indian, and European merchants and artisans from across the country; trade in silk, carpets, metalware, and spices flourished, and foreign envoys and missionaries also resided in the city, making Isfahan an inland international metropolis linking Europe and Asia.