The complex history of Safavid ceramics is due in part to the geographical position of Persia, placed as it was between the Ottoman Empire, the lands of Uzbek rulers, the Mughal empire and the Indian Ocean. The Safavid dynasty ruled over Persia (1501-1722) for over two centuries, with the first century proving to be a challenging time on all borders with intense military disruption on the Ottoman frontier. The entire 16th century type of ceramic decoration disappears towards the end of the rule of Shah ‘Abbas I and pottery workshops start responding with great gusto to the arrival of an increasing quantity of Kraak wares on the Persian market, this resulting in a dramatic improvement to the quality of the white stonepaste and its glaze. The most likely reason for this radical change would be the appearance on the scene of the Dutch East India Company, the new international purveyors in bulk of Chinese export wares. Whereas the 16th century Iznik production had in no time abandoned Chinese designs, Persian potters, in their renewed efforts to compete with Chinese wares, made good use of 17th century and earlier Chinese models, with their usual freehand approach in adapting original Far Eastern patterns.