The Muslim Empires of the Early Modern World

The Ottoman Empire The Challenger to Christian Europe

Growing Power –Turks began as a nomadic people in Central Asia in the Middle Ages. –Conquer Anatolia (Turkey) in the late Middle Ages –Conquer Constantinople in 1453, ending the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. –Come to rule most of the eastern Mediterranean by the middle 1500’s.

Rulers Sultan –Turkish political ruler (comparable to an emperor) Suleiman I –Great Law-giver of the Turks Grand Vizier –Prime minister who headed the bureaucracy for the sultan Janissaries –Elite corps of fighting men

The Ottoman Empire

Law –Established laws that tolerated non-Muslims. –Jews and Christians were allowed to practice their own religions. –Millets, or communities, took care of their own laws

Decline and Reform In the 1700’s the Ottoman Empire’s power began to decline. –The Turks twice laid seige to Vienna (in 1529 and 1683) and were turned back. –They were defeated at sea by Spain at the Battle of Lepanto (1571) –As a result, Sultans began to incorporate European ideas into their government.

Safavid Persia The Shiite Islamic Empire

Shah Abbas –Looked for alliances with the West to fight the Ottomans –Spread Persian culture and ideas, diplomacy and trade –He established a lavish court in the city of Isfahan.

Nadar Shah Expanded the Persian Empire to its greatest heights After his assassination in 1747 the territory he conquered was lost and the empire was divided.

The Mogul (Mughal) Empire Islamic Empire of India

Rulers Muslim Monguls establish control over Northern India in the late 1300s. Timur Lenk (Tamerlane) –Conquered central Asia and Northern India in the late 14 th century Akbar –Brought peace to northern India –Recognized religious tolerance of Hindus

Mogul Civilization –Lavish court centers of learning and the arts –Shan Jahan built the Taj Mahal Mogul Decline –Hindus and Sikhs rebel against Mogul authority, establishing independent kingdoms in the 17 century.