The Umayyads and Abbasids; Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and people from the lecture notes on the Umayyads, Abbasids, Muslim Spain, and the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires.

Caliph

The leader of the Muslim community; under the Umayyads, the caliphate became hereditary within the ruling clan (often father to son).

Umayyads

A ruling Arab dynasty that came to power after Ali, moved the capital to Damascus, established hereditary caliphs, and expanded the empire, contributing to the Sunni–Shi’ite split.

Abbasid Dynasty

The dynasty that overthrew the Umayyads in 750, moved the capital to Baghdad, presided over a golden age, and relied on Turkish mercenaries; overthrown by the Mongols in 1258.

Sunni

The Muslim majority that accepted Umayyad rule and believed any qualified Muslim could be caliph.

Shi’ite

The faction that believed only Muhammad’s family (especially Ali and descendants) could rule as caliphs.

Damascus

The city in Syria that became the capital of the Umayyad Empire, aiding control over conquered lands.

Abd al-Rahman

The Umayyad prince who escaped to Spain and founded the independent Umayyad dynasty in al-Andalus in 756.

al-Andalus

The name for Muslim Spain under the Umayyads; a center of learning, culture, and power.

Córdoba

Capital of al-Andalus; a major center of learning with a vast library and notable architecture like the Great Mosque.

Abd al-Rahman III

Caliph who proclaimed himself caliph in 929, unified Muslim Spain by 933, and transformed Córdoba into a great capital.

Great Mosque of Córdoba

A monumental mosque in Córdoba famed for its arches and vast prayer hall; expanded under Abd al-Rahman III.

Seljuk Turks

Turkish Muslims who controlled the empire’s government before the Mongol invasion, aiding expansion into the Balkans.

Mongols

Central Asian conquerors who captured Baghdad in 1258, ending Abbasid rule in the caliphate.

The Alhambra

A fortified palace in Granada begun around 860; an iconic example of Islamic architecture in Muslim Spain.

Suleyman I (Suleyman the Lawgiver)

Ottoman sultan (1520–1566) who expanded the empire, reformed laws, patronized the arts, and led military campaigns.

Istanbul (Constantinople)

Capital of the Ottoman Empire; renamed Istanbul after its 1453 conquest of Constantinople.

janissaries

Elite Ottoman troops trained as slaves recruited from Christian territories; highly skilled and well equipped.

Ottoman Empire

A vast Sunni Muslim empire founded by Osman; at its height spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa; noted for religious tolerance and a strong bureaucracy.

Safavid Empire

Shi’ite Muslim dynasty in Persia founded by Ismail in 1501; capital Esfahan; peak under Shah Abbas I; declined after 1722.

Ismail

Founder of the Safavid Empire; united Persian kingdoms and took the title shah.

Esfahan (Isfahan)

Safavid capital renowned for architecture, mosques, and cultural flourishing.

Shah Abbas I

Safavid ruler who presided over the empire’s peak, promoted arts and trade, and encouraged religious tolerance.

Mughal Empire

Muslim empire in India founded by Babur in 1526; Akbar the Great expanded and stabilized it; Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal; fell to British control by 1857.

Babur

Founder of the Mughal Empire who invaded northern India in 1526.

Akbar the Great

Mughal emperor who expanded the empire, established a loyal administration, and promoted religious tolerance and cultural synthesis.

Taj Mahal

Iconic mausoleum built by Shah Jahan (1628–1658) in memory of his wife; symbol of Mughal wealth and power.

Granada

Last Muslim stronghold in Spain; captured by Christian rulers in 1492, ending centuries of Muslim rule.

Reconquista

Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, culminating in the fall of Granada in 1492.