Final answer:
The collapse of the Safavid Empire was caused by conflicts with the Ottoman Empire, internal instability, and external threats from neighboring kingdoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The collapse of the Safavid Empire was attributed to several factors. One significant factor was the continuous conflicts with the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman sultan Bayezid II deported the Shi'ites from his empire, which led to tensions between the two empires. The invasion of Iranian Azerbaijan by Selim I and the destruction of Tabriz in 1514 weakened the Safavid empire even further.
Additionally, internal instability and rivalries within the Safavid state also contributed to its collapse. Ineffective leadership by Tahmasp's son and grandson, along with incursions by Ottoman and Uzbek forces, further destabilized the empire.
Furthermore, external threats from neighboring kingdoms, such as Russia and the Ottomans, also played a role in the decline of the Safavid Empire. The encroachment of Russia in the Caspian Sea and the loss of direct access to Africa and South Asia due to the entry of European ships to the Indian Ocean trade weakened the empire's territorial control.
Overall, a combination of conflicts with the Ottoman Empire, internal instability, and external threats contributed to the collapse of the Safavid Empire.