The World Shrinks, Early Modern Era 1450-1750: The Muslim Empires
Name______
Chapter 21 The Muslim Empires
1. How did Babur use new military technology to overcome a numerically superior foe?
2. What were the three important Muslim Empires in period of 1450-1750?
3. When was the Ottoman Dynasty founded?_____4. When did they capture Constantinople?_____
5. In what years did the Safavid Empire rise in Persia?_____
6. What were the years of the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent?_____
7. When were the first and last Ottoman sieges of Vienna? _____ & _____
8. When did the Safavid Empire fall?_____
9. Which Ottoman Turk leader conquered Constantinople? How did he accomplish this?
10. What other areas did the Ottomans capture over the next two centuries?
11. What major Mediterranean islands did they capture?
12. Which two Italian merchant powers were driven from the Eastern Mediterranean?
13. Who were the Janissaries? What role did they play in the Empire?
14. What is Stearns assessment of the early Ottoman sultans?
15. What was the title given to royal officials who headed the imperial administration? What happened to their authority over time?
16. What did the Ottomans do with their newly acquired capital at Constantinople?
17. Why did Constantinople/Istanbul become such an important trading hub again?
18. How did the Ottomans regulate commerce, manufacturing & labor?
19. What was the ‘problem’ with the size of the Ottoman Empire?
Read “Document: An Islamic Traveler Laments the Muslims’ Indifference to Europe”
20. Why is the author so very concerned that Muslims will ignore developments in Europe?
21. Based on our studies, why was it so easy for Muslims to feel superior to Europeans?
22. What happened to later sultans? What vices did some of them engage in?
23. In what ways did the Ottomans lose their military edge?
24. What was the impact of Spanish silver on the Ottoman economy?
25. How did conservative attitudes hamper Ottoman scientific and technological development?
1. What was the preferred sect of Islam followed by the Persian Safavids?
2. Who was the leader of the Safavids? What were his followers called?
3. Where did the Ottoman and Safavid Empires clash in 1514?
4. What was the outcome of the battle? What were the impacts of this victory?
Read “In Depth: The Gunpowder Empires & the Shifting Balance of Global Power”
5. What was “made clear” by the Battle of Chaldiran?
6. What was the impact of new weapons technology on old-fashioned stone and timer fortresses?
7. In what ways did leaders in Japan & China retreat (eventually) from new weapons technology?
8. How were smaller European nation-states able to rival these 3 massive Muslim Empires?
9. How did Shah Abbas I (the Great) organize and develop his army?
10. How did Safavid rulers build up the practice and prestige of the Shi’ite sect of Islam?
11. Why/how did Shi’ism become integral to Iranian identity (even to this day)?
12. What building projects and internal improvements did Abbas I undertake during his reign?
13. What economic challenges were faced by both the Ottman and Safavid Empires?
14. What social disadvantages were faced by women in these empires?
15. Describe the rapid decline of the Safavid Empire.
16. Why did Babur initially conduct raids into Northern India?
17. How did this lead to the foundation of the Mughal Empire?
18. Who were some of Akbar’s contemporary rulers around the world?
19. Why do you think Stearns asserts that Akbar was “one of the greatest leaders in history”?
20. How did Akbar reform government and (attempt to reform) religion? How did Hindus benefit?
21. What social reforms did he carry out? How did women benefit?
22. What were some of the varying European impressions of Mughal India? What goods were traded?
23. Why are Jahangir and Shah Jahan known as great patrons of the arts and architecture?
24. Why did Shah Jahan have the Taj Mahal built?
25. How did Nur Jahan amass power at court? How did she die?
26. How did the status of women decline in the middle years of the Mughal Empire?
24. What wereAurangzeb’s two main projects during his reign?
25. How did these ambitions actually weaken the empire? (leading to eventual English domination)
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