Tabriz was capital of the Safavid Empire from 1501 to 1548; during which time many great painters; such as Aqa Mirak; Mir Sayyid Ali and Dust Muhammad produced magnificent royal manuscripts. Safavid art set the standard for painting; literature and architecture; as well as ceramics; metal and glass. While of course nourished by Persian culture; much Safavid art was strongly influenced by Turkish; Chinese; Ottoman and Western cultures. The royal workshops of Tabriz were very influential; and illuminated and illustrated manuscripts spread throughout the empire. When the capital was transferred from Tabriz to Qazvin in 1548; the court artists fled to foreign courts; mostly Mughal or Ottoman.