The Safavids lived in the lands of what is now Iran and Iraq from 1501 until 1723. Their territory was bordered by the powerful Ottoman and Mughal Empires to the west and east respectively. (For the exact location, see map) Their society was ruled by the semi-divine power of a shah. The shahs were responsible for the religion (Shi'ite - a major sect of Islam) and for the art and economy of the empire. The remnants of the art of the empire still remain today in the beautiful architecture funded by Shah Abbas and in the Persian carpets made at the time.