Muslim Empires

Ottomans

• Came from Central Asia

• Ruled by a Sultan

• Conquered East Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East

• Constantinople is the capital

Suleiman

• Ottoman Sultan

• Modernized the army

• Built a law code

• Expanded the empire significantly during his reign.

Vizier

Head of ministration in the gov. the 2nd in command

Janissaries

Captured boys that were taken by the Ottomans, educated, converted to Islam, and became an elite force in the military and could serve in the government

Divan

Council the Sultan consulted

Sinan

An Ottoman architect who designed many mosques, including the famous Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul.

What was the economic structure of the Ottomans?

• Grew on warfare

• Farming

• Trade w/ merchants (Christian and Jewish) 

Art and Literature under the Ottomans 

• Aquducts

• Poetry 

• Schools

• Mosques

• Coffee Houses

• Gardens

• Ceramics + Carpets

Battle of Lepanto

A naval battle fought in 1571 between The Spanish and Venetian fleet and the Ottoman Empire, marking a significant turning point in the struggle between Christian and Muslim powers in the Mediterranean. (Europeans won)

Safavids

• In modern day Iran

• Emperor tile - Shah

• Promoted Shi’ia Islam

• Isfahan - Capital 

Abbas the Great

• Brought Europeans to build an army (made the Safavids equal to the Ottomans)

• Encourages silk + Carpet industry

• Religious toleration (Christians in Armenia)

• Built Isfahan 

Battle of Chaldiran

A battle between the Ottomans and Safavids that set the political and religious borders between the two empires

• Ottomans won

• Showed that the Safavids where weaker than Ottomans

Mullah

A prayer leader and mosque official (shi’ia)

Urdu

A language that developed in the Indian subcontinent, combining elements of Persian, Arabic, and local dialects. It serves as a literary language and is predominantly spoken in Pakistan and India.

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion that originated in the Punjab region of India in the 15th century, founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and later consolidated by nine successive Gurus. Sikhism emphasizes the belief in one God and rejects the caste system.

Safavid Economy

• Encouraged Trade

• Dependent on expansion 

Mughal Dynasty

• Founded by Babur

• Capital Delhi

• In Pakistan and north India area

• Leader called Shah

• Architectural achievements 

Babur

• Founder of the Mughal Dynasty, known for his military prowess and establishing a large empire in India.

• Decendent of Ghangis Khan

Akbar

• Religious toleration

• Government jobs for all

• Got rid of jizya

• Expanded the Mughal Empire

• Tried to make lives for women easier

• outlawed sati

• Left Empire in debt

Aurangzeb

• Strict Muslim

• Brought back Jizya

• Got rid of court poets

• Did not spend that much money

• Expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest territorial extent, but faced significant resistance and decline in the later years of his reign.

Taj Mahal

Bulit by Shah Jahan as a tomb for his wife 

Sati

Hindu women would burn themselves on their husbands casket 

Delhi

Mughal capital where much architecture was built including the Taj Mahal

Isfahan

• Capital of Safavids

• Rest homes and bathhouses 

• Many mosques

• Gardens

Constantinople

• Capital of Ottomans 

• Center of trade between Muslims and Christians 

• Major cultural and political hub

• Known for the Hagia Sophia and diverse population

Mehmed II

Ottoman sultan known for conquering Constantinople in 1453, expanding the empire significantly.

Anatolia

• Turkey

• Ottoman Empire was here

Red Heads

Sufi religious leaders, known for their headgear

Shah

Old title originally used by Persians but became the title for Mughals and Safavid rulers

Isma’il

Founder of the Safavid Empire

Sunni

Muslims who believed the ruler should be a good person

Shi’ia

Believed the ruler should be a descendent of Muhammed

Sufi

Mystics

List 3 Changes brought to the Mughal Dynasty under Akbar

• Ban of sati

• Anyone could work in the government

• Got rid of the Jizya tax

• Religious toleration

List 3 Improvements brought to the Safavid Dynasty under Abbas

• Strengthened the army by bringing in Europeans

• Built up Isfahan with lots of architecture such as coffee houses

• Encouraged silk and carpet industry, improving the economy 

Compare religious toleration of these 3 empires

They were all religiously tolerant

• Traded with other religions

• Mughals accepted Hindus

Describe the characteristics of the Gunpower empires

• All used gunpowder in military and relied on conquest

• Had a single monarch

• Lots of trade

• Did not keep up with the latest technology which set them behind Europeans which is why they got conquered

What ended the advancements of the 3 empires

• lack of technological modernization

• internal strife

• Shift in trade 

• to European powers and colonialism.

Who had the most of the power in the 3 empires originally?

The Sultans/Shahs

What were causes of the decline of empires?

• Lack of technological advancement

• Did not conquer as much

• revolts and political corruption

How did religion play a role in each empire

• Ottomans - Sunni Islam

• Safavids- Shi’a which religious officials influenced state and state supervised religion

• Mughals - Accepted hinduism which made their culture more diverse and peaceful

What was the Mughal Empire like under Aurangzeb 

• Close to collapse

• Internal strife and rebellion 

• Costs cut

What did Europeans want from India

Spices