1. The Ottoman Empire

2. Ottoman Turks Named after leader, Osman in late 1200s
1453- Constantinople became their capital: renamed Istanbul
End of Byzantine Empire
1500s- Sultan Selim I took control of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Arabia
Control of holy cities: Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina
Declared himself the new caliph, successor to Muhammad, defender of faith

3. Suleiman I, “The Lawgiver”
Ruled from
Was both sultan (political and military ruler) & caliph (Sunni Islamic ruler)
Power passed through hereditary lines
Grand vizier: sultan’s political advisor
Ulema: sultan’s group of religious advisors
Janissaries: members of the army, often captured from Christian families as children.

4. Ottoman Law Social classes: Rulers: sultan +officials
Nobles: owned lots of landagriculture
Peasants: worked those farms (BIGGEST GROUP!)

5. Ottomans and Religion Some religious tolerance
Other religions could have a leader who presented the desires of the group (millets)
More lenient towards women
Could own property
Couldn’t be forced into marriage
Could seek divorce

6. Ottoman Empire, continued
Strong Navy to protect trade
Europeans concerned about Ottoman threat to trade and Christianity
1572- Battle of Lepanto- Spanish fleet defeated the Ottoman fleet
Ruled until early 1900s, but began losing territory after loss of the Battle of Carlowitz in 1699
Corruption, introduction of alcohol, coffee and tobacco went against Islamic laws

7. Ottoman Art
Pottery, rugs, silk, textiles, jewelry, arms and armor, architecture
mosques modeled after Hagia Sophia
minarets- towers that call Muslims to prayer

9. The Safavid Empire

10. Islamic Split
Safavid Persians broke away from the Islamic Empire because of religious differences.
Ottoman sultan claimed religious rule
Safavid’s followed Shi’ite Islam: religious rule passes down through the line of Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali
Safavids required all subjects to accept Shi’ite form of Islam

11. Shah Abbas Ruled from 1587-1629 Built Isfahan as the Safavid capital
Many building projects
Imam Mosque, parks, palace
Tried to gain any allies possible against Ottomans
Even teamed up with Britain, an Christian state

12. Safavid Culture Persian culture spread Language, diplomacy, trade
Delicate architecture

13. Imam Mosque

14. Decline After Shah Abbas, there was a series of weak rulers.
1736- Nader Shah expanded Persian empire to greatest height, but he was assassinated in 1747
Late 1700s- Qajar Turks took the throne and ruled until 1925

15. The Mogul Empire

16. Early Mogul Empire
Late 1300s-Timur Lenk (Tamerlane) ruled central Asia/India
Ruthless leader
1398- destroyed Delhi, killing thousands
After his death, his Muslim Empire started to crumble
1526- Babur (descendent of Timur Lenk) conquered Delhi at Battle of Panipat
Set up Mogul Dynasty

17. Akbar the Great Babur’s grandson was Akbar
Benevolent ruler who inherited the throne at age 14
Brought peace and order to northern India
Empire seemed centralized, but actually many semi-independent states held together by Emperor Akbar
Encouraged religious tolerance to ensure peace between Muslims (monotheistic) and Hindus (many gods)
Din-i-ilahi (The Divine Faith)
Akbar’s created religion that combined aspects of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and others.

18. Mogul Culture Music, painting, literature flourished in Mughal India
Courts were centers of art and learning, built libraries
Akbar was illiterate!
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal at Agra
Trade with China brought gunpowder, paper, and Chinese porcelain to Mogul India

19. Taj Mahal

20. Mogul Decline Late 1600s- religious toleration was abandoned
Right to the throne caused fighting between the ruling family
Persecution of Hindus and Sikhs (another middle eastern religion) led these religious groups to rebel, thus weakening the empire.