MESA Panel, organized by Yusuf Ünal

Panel Description

This panel explores the rich and diverse sensorial landscapes and experiences in the Ottoman and Safavid empires in the late medieval and early modern periods. In this transformative era forged by sociopolitical shifts, economic upheaval, technological advancements, and religious change, these imperial landscapes were sensorily reconstituted. Bringing together five different case studies drawing on various sources and sensorial experiences, this panel investigates the role of senses in the reconfiguration of religiopolitical landscapes and identities. The panel begins by exploring the role of the senses in cultivating the cult of sainthood and the immersive spiritual experiences of early Ottoman devotees. Examining epic narratives and hagiographies, it shows how sight, sound, and touch were central to faith, fostering a deeper corporeal and material understanding of religious experiences. Next, it analyzes the symbolic power of the crimson headgear worn by the Safavid-Qizilbash movement, a distinctive expression of both faith and political identity. Integrating insights from the history of senses and material culture, it investigates how the red color and the twelve-gored shape engaged the gaze of both detractors and supporters, drawing on depictions in diverse contemporary sources. Delving deeper into the Qizilbash sensorium, the panel analyzes an occult text, a grimoire commissioned by a Qizilbash warlord, to reveal how the senses were weaponized and exploited within the Safavid court and military life. This democratizing manual of magic offers a strategic glimpse into the sensory world of the Qizilbash. Moving beyond sight and touch, the panel lends an ear to the vibrant sonic world of the iconic Safavid square in Isfahan, the Maydan-e Naqsh-i Jahan, and its bustling bazaar. It demonstrates how the square emerged as a site of sensations, which involved sonic scenes of death, carnival, and life. Finally, the panel discussion zooms into the heart of the square, exploring the multisensory experiences of Shi’i believers in the Shah Mosque. Drawing comparative parallels with the Sultan Ahmet Mosque in the Ottoman realm, it demonstrates how both structures, through their captivating designs and rich sensory elements, offered their congregants profound and immersive experiences. By transcending abstract doctrinal speculations and political and monarchy-centric narratives, this panel seeks to elucidate the agency of senses in reconfiguring the Ottoman and Safavid landscapes.

Panel Presentation by Yusuf Ünal

The Color of Heresy and Sanctity: The Qizilbash Red Cap in the Sight of Its Beholders

The Safavid Revolution was a sensational one, for it transformed the sensorial and material landscape in Iran and beyond. The adoption of the Shi’i adhan, with its distinctive proclamations, and clamorous rituals involving effigy burning and symbolic violence, inundated the senses of both allies and adversaries. This transformation was further reflected in the iconic twelve-gored crimson headgear instituted by Shaykh Haydar (d. 1480), father of Shah Ismail I (r. 1501-1524). This red hat served as a powerful visual marker, captivating the gaze and refashioning the Safavid identity. The moniker “Qizilbash” (“Redheads”) itself testifies to its significance. For Safavids, it represented sanctity and loyalty, while for Sunni rivals, it symbolized heresy and rebellion. Drawing on diverse sources like travelogues, Qizilbash religious texts, legal documents, and polemics, this analysis delves into the contentious role of the headgear. By integrating material and sensory studies, it argues that grooming practices like headwear played a critical role in shaping confessional and communal identity. This approach challenges traditional narratives that overemphasize theological debates and legal pronouncements in understanding Sunni-Shi’i differences. It posits that tangible artifacts, sensory experiences, and even grooming habits were equally, if not more, crucial in differentiating communities, fostering belonging, and building associations.