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 14th century

• Akbar– Brought peace to northern India– Recognized religious tolerance

of Hindus

Mogul Civilization• 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.