The conquest of Persia by various caliphates transformed the region from Zoroastrianism to predominantly Sunni Islam, influencing Islamic art and architecture. The rise and fall of empires, from the Seljuks to the Khwarizmian and ultimately the Mongols, shaped the cultural landscape. The establishment of the Safavid Empire marked a pivotal shift, as it was the first Persian-led state in nearly 900 years, establishing Shia Islam as the state religion and heralding the beginning of modern Iranian history.
