Seljuk Turks & Ottoman Empire

Spread of Islam 814

Crusades 1096-1270

Seljuk Turks Nomadic group from Central Asian Steppe Originally hired as soldiers in Baghdad

under the Abbasid rulers → leads to their control of the Abbasid gov’t

Controlled trade through Asia, Europe & Middle East (crossroads of the world)

Sunni Islam Defeated Byzantine Empire at the Battle of

Manzikert 1071 After 20 years, the Seljuks conquered

Palestine → leads to the Crusades

Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

Suleiman the Magnificent1520 - 1566

Topkapi Palace

JANISSARIES

• The sultans pursued a policy of seizing Christian boys and raising them to be devout Muslim warriors known as janissaries.

• This elite warrior class of slaves became the sultan’s personal army until the 19th Century.

THE MILLET SYSTEM

• Ottoman law also permitted non-Muslims to practice their faith in return for paying a head tax or harachi.

• Turkish laws were made which allowed the empire’s diverse religious groups to run affairs in their own communities or millets.

• Each millet presented their views to the sultan through a leader they had chosen.

Suleiman Mosque

Safavid & Mogul/Mughal Empires

Safavid Empire 1502-1736

Defeated Ottoman Turks in 1603 to regain Baghdad (used diplomacy w/ England in war)

Set up court in Isfahan

Imam mosque Persian culture

spread (Farsi influenced Urdu, Pakistani language)

Shah Abbas (1571-1629)

• They encouraged rug weaving as a state industry.

• Persian rugs became noted for their high quality and artistic excellence.

SAFAVID TEXTILES

Imam Mosque

Safavid Court

Persian women Princes

Isfahan

Mogul Empire

(Mughal Empire)

1526-1707

Babur of Ferghana(r. 1526-1530)

• Set up Mughal dynasty in northern India after making war on the raj puts

• Claimed to be a descendant of both Genghis Khan and Timur Lenk (Mongol leaders)

Humayun’s Tomb (Babur’s son)

Akbar the Great 1542-

1605• System of rule, known as the mansabdari, was based on loyal service and cash payments

• Religious tolerance (Hindu, Shi’ite & Sunni) → Tried to set up a new religion “Divine Faith” (Din-i-Ilahi)

• Valued education & set up a library

Taj MahalTomb of Shah Jahan & Mumtaz Mahal (wife)

“A tear on the cheek of eternity“ - Rabindranath Tagore (Indian poet)

Sikhism The opening sentence of

the Sikh scriptures is only two words long and reflects the base belief of all who follow the religion: ੴ - Ek Onkar (One

Creator)The founder:

Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (1469-1538) The followers of Sikhism are ordained to follow the teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus and other saints as scripted in their 1430 page holy scripture the Guru Granth Sahib (a sacred text considered by Sikhs to be their eleventh and final Guru)