The Safavid dynasty (/sɑːˈfɑːwiːd/ Persian: سلسلهٔ صفويان‎‎; Azerbaijani: Səfəvilər sülaləsi, صفويلر سولاله‌سى) was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Persia (modern Iran) after the fall of the Sasanian Empire - following the Muslim conquest of Persia in the seventh century A.D., and "is often considered the beginning of modern Persian history".