T.W.P.S

What is you idea of an Empire? Take 3 minutes to write down your ideas.

7.2.4Muslim Empires

The Big Idea

After the early spread of Islam, three large Islamic empires formed—the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal.

Main Ideas

• The Ottoman Empire covered a large area in eastern Europe.

• The Safavid Empire blended Persian cultural traditions with Shia Islam.

• The Mughal Empire in India left an impressive cultural heritage.

Janissaries

Christian boys, forced into being slave soldiers and converting to Islam, to fight for the Ottoman Empire

Sultan

An Ottoman Ruler

Suleyman I

AKA- “The Magnificent”; ruled the Ottoman Empire at it’s Height.

Shia

Muslims that thought only Muhammad’s family could be Caliphs.

Sunni

Muslims that believe as long as a Caliph is a good Muslim and good

leader, they can be a Caliph.

Main Idea 1:Muslims ruled the Ottoman Empire, which

was a political and cultural force.

• The Ottomans were aided by slave soldiers called Janissaries.

• They had new gunpowder weapons, such as the cannon.

• Mehmed II and Suleyman I led conquests that turned the Ottomans into a world power.

• During Suleyman’s rule, the Ottoman Empire reached its cultural peak.

– Poets wrote beautiful works.

– Architects turned Istanbul into a Muslim city.

• Women had limited freedom.

Ottoman Government and Society

• The sultan, or Ottoman ruler, issued laws and made all major decisions in the empire.

• Ottoman society was divided into two classes.

– Judges and people who advised the sultan were part of the ruling class.

– Those who didn’t fit into the ruling class made up the other class. Many of these were Christians or Jews from lands the Ottomans had conquered.

Main Idea 2: The Safavid Empire blended Persian cultural

traditions with Shia Islam.

• A conflict arose over who should be caliph.

• Islam split into two groups.

– The Shia thought that only members of Muhammad’s family could become caliphs.

– The Sunni thought it did not matter as long as they were good Muslims and strong leaders.

The Safavid Empire

• The Safavid Empire began when the Safavid leader Esma’il conquered Persia and made himself shah, or king.

• He made Shiism the official religion of the empire.

• The Safavids blended Persian and Muslim traditions.

• The manufacturing of traditional products, such as handwoven carpets, silk, and velvet, was encouraged.

Main Idea 3:The Mughal Empire in India left an

impressive cultural heritage.

• Babur established the Mughal Empire, but it grew mostly under an emperor named Akbar.

• Akbar’s tolerant policies helped unify the empire.• A conflict of cultures led to the end of this empire, but

resulted in a culture unique to the Mughal Empire.• Cultures that blended in the empire included

– Muslims– Hindus– Persians– Indians