1. Islamic Empires of the 1500’s
Edited by Mr. Barkhau
Shamelessly stolen from:

2. Persian Empire (Safavid Persia)
East of Ottoman Empire
Modern-day Iran
Lasted from 1501 to 1722

3. General Info Ismail = Turkic founder of Safavid Dynasty
Defining characteristic = followed Shia version of Islam
Introduced sharp divide between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims to the heartland of Islam
Seen as the beginning of modern Iranian history
One of the “Gunpowder Empires”

4. Gunpowder Empire
Term used to describe Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires
Each empire rose in part to the use of newly developed firearms (cannons and small arms)

5. Decline of the Safavid Incompetent Safavid rulers weakened the empire
Poor leadership and misuse of money
Territory was lost & empire divided up when Afghans seized Persia in 1722

6. Mughal Empire Located in India Kingdom center = Delhi
Established by Muslim Turks

7. General Info
Both a Hindu and Islamic civilization (Muslim Rulers, Hindu subjects)
Taj Mahal built during this time

8. Babur 1st true Mughal emperor
Descendant of both Genghis Khan and Timur
Orderly government
Expanded the arts
Spread Persian influence to India
Modern countries claim him as a national hero – Uzbekistan, Kyrgystan

9. Akbar the Great Brought peace and order to India
Encouraged religious tolerance with both Hindus and Muslims
Created a new religion called “Divine Faith” = combined Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity
Repealed taxes on Hindus

10. Mughal Culture Arts = music, literature, painting Lavish courts
Large libraries
Increased trade
Muslim architects introduced the dome and the arch
Brought porcelain, paper, and gunpowder from China to India

11. The Taj Mahal Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1632
Mausoleum for his 3rd wife
She died giving birth to their 14th child

12. Mughal Decline
Rulers eventually abandoned religious tolerance and the Hindu minority was persecuted, which weakened the empire
Empire officially ended when Great Britain took over India
Sepoy Mutiny in = Mughal’s last stand

13. The Ottoman Empire Founded by Turks Started in Anatolia
Controlled Balkan Peninsula and parts of eastern Europe
Acquired much of the Middle East, North Africa, and region between Black and Caspian Seas

14. The Ottoman Empire
Maintained strong navy in Mediterranean region to protect trade routes they controlled
Conquered much of the Byzantine’s territory -- captured capital of Constantinople in & renamed it Istanbul
Remained a significant sea power until the 1700s

15. Suleiman I (the Magnificent)
Ruled from
Ruled the richest and most powerful empire in Europe and Asia at this time
Organized Ottoman law
Strengthened military
Converted young Christian boys to Islam & drafted them into the military = called Devshirme
Janissaries = elite infantry force

16. The Siege of Vienna
Suleiman tried to capture Vienna Austria the capital of the Hapsburg empire.
This sparked a series of wars between Austria and the Ottomans
The longest lasted for 15 years
Coffee was introduce to Europe after it was left by retreating Ottoman armies

17. Key Terms regarding Islamic Rulers
Islamic religious leader = caliph
Political ruler = called a sultan
“Right-hand man” to the sultan = grand vizier

18. Ottoman Law
Ottomans (Muslims) ruled diverse people: Arabs, Greeks, Slavs, Armenians, Jews, etc.
Millets = separate communities of non- Muslims --> each millet controlled its own affairs
Population divided into different classes
1st class = ruling class made up of sultan, his family & high government officials
2nd class = nobility
3rd class (largest) = peasants

19. The Ottomans
Borrowed many elements from the Byzantine, Persian, and Arab cultures
Bridges, mosques, and aqueducts reflect this blend of culture
Turned Christian church of Hagia Sophia into a mosque

20. Decline of the Ottomans
By 1600, empire had reached its peak and started to decline
1683 failed to conquer Vienna Austria (again…)
Faced constant attacks from enemies on its borders (Hapsburg Austria-Hungry, and Russia)

21. Decline of the Ottomans
Economic problems
Trade competition from the Americas
Europe had colonies in Asia reducing the need for the Ottoman traders
Empire would last until 1924 when it was dissolved after WW1, it became the nation of Turkey.
All lands dominated by the Ottomans became colonies of the Allied Powers