ISLAM: EMPIRE OF FAITH

MUSLIM GUNPOWDER DYNASTIES

Empire Building: Three of the great empires of history—the Ottomans in Turkey, the Safavids in Persia, and the Mughals in India—emerged in the Muslim world between the 14th and the 18th centuries.

Cultural Diffusion: As powerful societies moved to expand their empires, Turkish, Persian, Mongol, and Arab ways of life blended. The result was a flowering of Islamic culture that peaked in the 16th century.

Power & Authority: The rulers of all three great Muslim empires of this era based their authority on Islam. They based their power on strong armies, advanced technology, and loyal administrative officers.

The Ottomans Build a Vast Empire

What role did each ruler play in the building and expansion of the Ottoman Empire?

Osman
/ ▪ Built a small state in Anatolia (Turkey) between 1300 and 1326 and began rule of the Ottomans
▪ Was a unifier of the Turkish tribes
▪ Turks became ghazis, or warriors for Islam
▪ Osman’s successors used the title of Sultan, or overlord.
Mehmet II
/ ▪ Came to power in 1451
▪ Called Mehmet the Conqueror because he captured Constantinople (1453)
(See Mankind video, New World, Fall of Constantinople)
Selim the Grim
/ ▪ Came to power in 1512
▪ Overthrew his father
▪ Executed his nephews and all but one of his sons
▪ Defeated Safavids of Persia
▪ Conquered Syria, Palestine, the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and Egypt
Suleiman
/ ▪ Came to power in 1520
▪ Empire reaches its greatest height
▪ Took control of the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa coastline
▪ Divided empire into administrative units
▪ Organized laws of the empire
▪ Supported the arts, architecture, and learning (a Golden Age)
▪ Called Suleiman the Magnificent, Suleiman the Lawgiver
▪ #100 on the Millennium List of Influential People

Cultural Blending: The Safavid Empire

Interaction among peoples (trade, migration, conquest) can create a blending of cultures.

The Safavids built a Shi’a Empire.
Isma’il
Early 1500s

▪ Conquered most of what is now Iran
▪ Took ancient Persian title of Shah
▪ Made Shia Islam the state religion
* Difference between Sunni and Shia Islam
▪ Became a religious tyrant who executed people who would not convert
▪ Caused conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims that continues today
▪ Identification as Sunni was not emphasized by Ottomans until Safavids emphasized Shia Islam / Shah Abbas helped create a Safavid culture.
Came to power in 1587

▪ Promoted cultural blending in his empire
▪ Established relations with Europe
▪ Invited Chinese artisan to his court
▪ Based government on Ottoman model
▪ Like Suleiman, presided over a Golden Age

The Mughals Establish an Empire in India

Akbar the Great
1556-1605

▪ Loved learning, but was illiterate. Had books read to him
▪ Encouraged debate among priests and scholars
▪ Practiced religious tolerance
▪ Ruled through a bureaucracy of both Hindu and Muslim officials
▪ Practiced cultural blending
▪ Encouraged arts, architecture, and literature
▪ A Golden Age ruler
▪ A new language, Urdu, is created / Shah Jahan
1628-1658

▪ Ordered the building of the Taj Mahal
▪ The building depleted the empire’s resources
▪ People were heavily taxed and denied important services
(See Mankind video, Treasure, Uncountable Wealth)