The Muslim Empires

Chapter 8, Sections 1-3

Outline• Rise of Ottoman Turks

– Expansion of empire– Ottoman society– Problems

• Rise of Safavid Dynasty– Safavid society and political

structure– Decline of the Safavid Dynasty

• Rise of the Mogul Dynasty– Decline of Moguls– British in India– Mogul society and culture

Rise of the Ottoman Turks• Began on the Anatolia Peninsula

– Land given to the Osman Turks for helping ruling Turks defend their land against the Mongols

• As Seljuk empire begins to fall, Osman begin aggressive push for land

• Through the use of janissaries, or the elite guard, Ottoman empire spreads– Reaches the Balkan Peninsula in 14th

century• Sultans were supreme political and

military leaders– Resided with his wives at the harem,

or sacred palace• Also used pashas to collect taxes,

maintain laws, and enforce the sultan’s laws

Expansion of the Empire• Constantinople (1453)

– 80,000 troops vs 7,000 defenders– Fighting lasted 2 months– Ottomans win, Byzantine empire falls– Made Constantinople their new

capital• Western Asia and Africa (Early

1500s)– Conquests of Egypt, Mesopotamia,

and Arabia– Control of the holy cities of Jerusalem,

Mecca, and Madinah• Europe (Early 1500s)

– Suleyman I wanted to expand into Europe

– Made it to Vienna before being turned back in 1529

– Maintained land deep in Europe until 1683, when combined European forces drove them out

Ottoman Society• Known as a gunpowder empire

– Outside emperor takes over and unifies territories

– Also implies use of guns and gunpowder

• Sultan maintained control through a council headed by the grand vizier

• Sultan claimed title of caliph, or spiritual leader– Gave religious duties to advisors

known as ulema• People were divided into 4 primary

groups– Peasants, artisans, merchants, and

pastoral peoples

Problems in the Ottoman Empire• Stable under Suleyman I, but

began to crumble under the control of his sons

• Sultans increasingly appointed people to do jobs for them– Further divided their

relationship with the people– Corruption rose, wars occurred

more often• European influence through

trade divided western and eastern Ottoman Empire– West was more Europeanized

Rise of the Safavid Dynasty• Founded by Shah Ismail

– Had been ruler of Azerbaijan– Shah means king

• In 1501, Ismail began to take territories in the Middle East– Creating a new Persian Empire

• High point came under Shah Abbas (1588-1629)– Created a system similar to

Ottomans– Regained territories from

Ottomans

Safavid Society• Religion

– Great pressure to conform to traditional beliefs, or orthodoxy

• Role of the Shah– Shah seen as direct descendant

of the prophet Muhammad– Freely ate and drank with

visitors• Economy and Trade

– Fabrics and spices were some of the most valuable commodities

– Successful shahs kept trade routes free of bandits

Decline of the Safavid Dynasty

• Early 1800s, capital city of Isfahan taken by Afghan peoples– Safavid rulers forced to

retreat to Azerbaijan, original ruling territories

• Period of anarchy, or lawlessness and disorder, follows

Rise of the Mogul Dynasty• Founded by Babur

– Descendant of Timur Lenk and Genghis Khan

– Inherited land in the river valley of Syr Darya

– Expanded the empire across North India through use of advanced weaponry

– Muslims ruling Hindu people• Akbar, grandson of Babur,

greatest conqueror of Moguls– Practiced religious tolerance– Incorporated use of zamindars

• Local landholder that rented land to lower classes

Decline of the Moguls• Although conquest succeeded,

Moguls faced other issues at home• Wars increased need for money,

meaning increased taxes– People aren’t happy

• When Shah Jahan fell sick, his son Aurangzeb took the throne– Imprisoned his father, killed his

brother• Aurangzeb rejected “social evils” of

India– Suttee – cremating a widow on her

husband’s funeral pyre• Also implemented pro-Muslim

polices, upsetting Hindu• India became divided and subject

to attack

British in India• British entered for one purpose –

TRADE– Increased interest from other

European nations– Entered through the East India

Company, a “private” trading company

• Sir Robert Clive was responsible for protecting the company and defending against any threat

• British constantly faced turmoil while ruling– People didn’t embrace them– Consistent fighting with both

French and Moguls• Still, British became rich through

exploitation of India and Moguls

Mogul Society and Culture• Some Muslim practices

encouraged change in India– Allowed to work and earn

money– Did restrict women, isolating

them at times• Hindu practices also survived

– Suttee, child marriage• Combined Persian and Indian

architectural style– Taj Mahal

• Also saw a blend in the arts