Chapter 15: The Muslim Empires

What were the three significant Muslim empires during the Early Modern period?

The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires.

Who founded the Mughal Empire in India?

Babur.

What influenced the rise of the Safavid Empire?

The Shi’a variant of Islam.

What military innovations did Babur use to establish the Mughal Empire?

Superior firepower, including cannons and muskets.

How did the Sunni–Shi’a split affect the Ottoman and Safavid empires?

It led to violent rivalries and intensified ethnic divisions.

What role did the Janissaries play in the Ottoman military structure?

They were crucial infantry troops recruited from Christian boys, controlling artillery and firearms.

What significant event marked the capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans?

The seven-week siege led by Sultan Mehmed II in 1453.

How did Akbar manage relations with Hindu subjects in India?

He encouraged marriages between Mughal aristocracy and Hindu Rajput families and abolished the jizya tax on Hindus.

What was the main reason for the decline of the Ottoman Empire in the late seventeenth century?

Overextension and inefficiencies within its resource base.

What architectural masterpiece did Shah Jahan build in memory of his wife?

The Taj Mahal.

What impact did Aurangzeb's policies have on the Mughal Empire?

His religious policies and military campaigns led to internal rebellions and weakened the empire.

What were the two groups of religious leaders in the Safavid Empire?

Turkic chiefs as warrior nobility and Persian religious scholars.

What was a major contribution of the Safavid Empire to trade?

Establishing a major center of international trade and Islamic culture.

What was the significance of the Battle of Chaldiran in 1514?

It highlighted the importance of gunpowder weapons and marked a defeat for the Safavid expansion.

What form of governance did all three Muslim empires (Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal) share?

They were ruled by Turkic-speaking warrior leaders.

How did the Ottoman Empire expand during the 1350s?

Expanding into Europe, particularly Thrace and the Balkans.

What drove Babur's initial conquests into India?

The need for resources to reclaim his lost kingdom, Ferghana.