Resurgence of Muslim Empires

Ch 21

I. Introduction• After the fall of Baghdad, Islamic power

declined considerably• Reemerged with Ottoman Empire in

late 14th century• Followed by:

• Safavid Empire-Afghanistan and Iran• Mughal- Northern India

I. Introduction• Focused on conquest

• Used gunpowder• Cannons and small arms

• Eventual conquered Constantinople in 1453 AD (Ottomans)

II. Ottomans• Largest of new Muslim Empires

• Expanded greatly through conquest

• Was founded in 1281• Made of Turks who took power as a result

of Mongol and Seljuk Turk power vacuum• Named for Osman• Sunni

II. Ottomans• Conquered much of the Byzantine Empire

• Constantinople fell to Sultan Mehmed II “The Conqueror”

• Opened up invasion into Europe as far as Hungary

• Used gunpowder considerably• Cannons• Janissaries- military slaves (educated) that

were skilled in artillery and firearms • Became very influential

II. Ottomans• Sultans

• Effective but later become preoccupied with wealth and pleasure

• Bureaucracy led by a grand vizier• Became pleasure seeking which led to

downfall• Problems with succession

II. Ottomans• Constantinople

• Rebuilt after conquest• Hagia Sophia becomes a Mosque

• Many public works- aqueducts, hospitals etc.

• Guilds ran by government agencies

II. Ottomans• Decline

• Lasted for 600 years• Over expanded• 17th century major retreating started• Corruption in government• Sultans isolated in luxury• Janissaries started to become more

influential

II. Ottomans• Decline continued…

• Battle of Lepanto 1571• Huge sea battle that all but crushed

Ottoman fleet• Spanish and Venetians

• Slight recovery that saved North Africa• Allowed Portuguese to move in on Africa• Lost Mediterranean

• Inflation• Technological stagnation

III. Safavids• Shi’a• Started with religious movement of Sufi Sail

al-Din who tried to reform Turkish Islam• Known as the Red Heads• Became an empire under Isma’il when he

took Tabriz in 1501• Conquered most of modern day Iran and

parts of Iraq

III. Safavids• Isma’il clashed with Ottomans at Chaldiran

where his cavalry was slaughtered• Solidified Ottoman dominance over Safavids

• After Isma’il, period of turmoil• Abbas I “The Great”

• Used converted Russian slaves for military and control of firearms

• European advisors• Strengthened military

III. Safavids• Culture

• Used Persian rather than Turkish• Leaders called padishah- king of kings• Religion ruled by mullahs

• Regulated by government• Required to curse 1st 3 caliphs• Forced conversion to Shi'ite Islam• Public flagellation

• Culture was Istafan

III. Safavids• Women

• Veiled yet wore colorful clothing?• Elite women were more greatly

secluded• Concubines influenced rulers

• Trade• Constricted market compared to open

Ottoman market• Encouraged art and skilled labor

III. Safavids• Decline

• Secluded leaders• 1722 capital sieged and defeated by

Afghani nomads

IV. Mughals• Founded by Babur and moved to India

in 1526• Kicked out of Afghanistan• Made attempts to return to Afghanistan

but failed• Turned to conquest of India

• Greatly conquered Indians (Lodi)• Problems after his death

IV. Mughals• Akbar

• Babur’s grandson (Humayan’s son)• Took over at 13 and ruled for 49 years• Illiterate yet smart• Long term planning

• Intermarriage with Hindus• Respected Hinduism • Got rid of Jizya• Din-i-Ilahi

• Tried to outlaw sati

IV. Mughals• Akbar’s Social Changes

• Homeless shelters• Remarriage of widows• Limited child marriage• Women only days at markets

IV. Mughals• Jahangir (1569-1627) and Shah Jahan

(1592-1666)• Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan• Luxurious living and for both Jahangir

and Shah Jahan• Highly influenced by spouses• Traded textiles with Europeans• Patrons of arts

IV. Mughal • Decline

• Huge military but inept• Corrupt bureaucracy• Aurangzeb expanded territory but tried

to purify Islam• Drained treasury• Peasant uprisings

• Rebellions of the Marattas (Hindu) and Sikhs (branch of Hinduism)

V. Wrap Up• Muslim empires fell behind Europeans• Muslim Empires decline allowed

Europeans to make economic gains