reign of süleyman i peak of the empire süleyman as "lawgiver"
TRANSCRIPT
Reign of Süleyman I
Peak of the empireSüleyman as "Lawgiver"
Discussion
Despite the success of his reign, how did Süleyman create problems for the Ottoman
Empire?
By executing his most able sons, he ensured that the next ruler would be an incompetent one.
Beginnings of Decline
Changes in governmentImpact of Western ideas and
customsEconomic problems
Discussion
Why do you think some sultans tried to stop the introduction
of Western ideas and customs?
They may have felt threatened by Western ideas or customs and may have been trying to preserve their
own culture.
afavids Attempt to Build a Shia ṢEmpire
A new dynasty in Persia and Central Asia
Attempts to unify empire through forced conversion
Discussion
What effects do you think the Safavids' attempts to enforce mandatory conversion to the Shia faith might have had on
the Sunni population?
Rising hostility and further division between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
Background The teachings of the prophet Muhammad formed the
foundation of Islam. When Muhammad died, he left no clear line of succession, and disagreements later broke out about who should be the caliph, or leader
of Islam. An especially contentious argument surrounded the legacy of the fourth caliph, Ali, who
was Muhammad's son-in-law. After Ali was assassinated, the Umayyad Dynasty became the leaders of Islam. But followers of Ali, refusing to recognize the Umayyads as caliphs, formed their own branch of Islam that came to be called Shia.
Another branch, called Sunni, was formed by Muslims who disagreed with the Umayyads but still
recognized them.
Discussion
What did the emphasis on religious orthodoxy mean for
people in the Ṣafavid Empire?
People were pressured to conform to traditional religious beliefs and women were forced into seclusion
and required to wear the veil.
Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy - conforming to established doctrine, especially in religion.
Are there calls for religious orthodoxy today?
Religious leaders of many faiths today urge people to follow or return
to traditional beliefs.
DiscussionHow were the Ottoman and Ṣafavid empires
similar? How were they different?
Similarities: both were Muslim, both conquered surrounding territory, both had the latest weapons, and both encouraged the arts.
Differences: the Ottomans were Sunni, whereas the Ṣafavids were Shia; the Ottomans were
ruled by a sultan, whereas the Ṣafavids were ruled by a shah.