Download PowerfulMuslimEmpires-1

Bellringer 10-11-12
• PUT YOUR HOMEWORK IN THE BIN!
• 1. What is the Islamic code of laws called?
• 2. What are the two different type of Muslims
called?
• 3. What is a caliph?
• 4. How did the Umayyad treat conquered
peoples?
• 5. Who killed the last Abbasid Caliph?
Powerful Muslim Empires
Islamic Invasion
After the Gupta Empire fell in 550, India was divided into many little local
kingdoms – ruled by warring princes.
Despite power struggles between Princes, Indian
culture flourished. Beautiful Buddhist and Hindu
temples were built and trade networks connected
India to many other empires.
Around 1000, Muslim Turks and Afghans
invaded India. They were fierce warriors
and the sultan, or Muslim Ruler, was able
to defeat Hindu armies.
These Islamic tribes organized a sultanate, or land ruled by
a sultan, in Dehli. The Dehli Sultanate would last from
1206 to 1526.
This marked the start of Muslim rule in India.
Muslims and Hindus Clash
Muslims brought changes to Indian government and society. These
newcomers created a brilliant civilization at Delhi where Persian art and
architecture flourished.
However, the Delhi Sultanate fell after
Tamerlane invaded and destroyed Delhi in
1398. This led to conflict between Muslims and
Hindus.
The Muslim invasion of India brought two very different religions face to
face. Unfortunately, many Buddhists and Hindus were killed and their
temples destroyed.
However, there was also a blending of the two
religions because many Hindus converted to Islam
and many Muslims absorbed Hindu culture.
One holy man, Nanak, formed a new religion that
was a blend of Hinduism and Islam called. Sikhism
Sikhism: A Blend of Religious Beliefs
Islam
•Belief in One God
• Religious and Moral duties
defined in the 5 Pillars
• Belief in Heaven and Hell,
and a day of Judgment
• No priests; all believers are
religious equals
Hinduism
•Belief in many gods, all part
of Brahman
• Emphasis on religious and
moral duties, or dharma
• Belief in a cycle of birth,
death, and rebirth
Sikhism
• Belief in the “Unity of God”
• Belief in Reincarnation
• Rejection of the Caste system
The Mughal Empire
In 1526, Babur, a military genius who was
supposedly a descendent of Genghis Khan
and Tamerlane, invaded India and founded
the Mughal Empire.
The chief builder of the Mughal Empire was Akbar the Great.
He earned this title by creating a strong central government,
promoting religious tolerance, modernizing the army,
encouraging trade, and introducing land reforms.
The golden age of the Mughal Empire was during the reign of Shah Jahan,
Akbar’s grandson. He promoted literature, arts, and architecture
throughout the empire.
In addition, Shah Jahan built the greatest
monument of the Mughal Empire, the Taj Mahal
as a tomb for his wife.
The Ottoman Empire
While the Mughals ruled India, two other empires – the Ottoman and
Safavid Empires – dominated the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The Ottoman and Safavid empires became known as the “Gunpowder
Empires” because of the new technology they developed.
The Ottomans were a Turkish speaking nomadic people who migrated from
Central Asia (like the Seljuk Turks). They created a Sunni Muslim empire.
As the Ottomans expanded across Asia, they threatened
the Byzantine Empire. After many failed attempts to
capture Constantinople, Mehmet II finally succeeded in
1453.
After a two month siege, they basted through the city
walls and took Constantinople and renamed it Istanbul.
This would be the Ottoman capital for years!
Suleiman the Magnificent
The Ottoman empire enjoyed a golden age under
Suleiman the Magnificent. Suleiman greatly
expanded the empire by modernizing his powerful
army and conquering many new lands.
The Janizaries were an elite force of
soldiers in the Ottoman Army that came
from people they conquered in battle.
Suleiman also created a strong
government based on the Sharia.
The Ottoman poets, artists, and
architects were influenced from
Persian and Arab forms of art. During
Suleiman’s rule the arts flourished.
Safavid Empire
By the early 1500s, the Safavid Empire had created an
Empire in Persia (modern-day Iran). The Safavids were
Shiite Muslims who enforced their beliefs on their
Empire.
The Safavid King was called the Shah. The most famous
was Shah Abbas the Great.
Shah Abbas centralized government, created a
strong army, strengthened the economy by
reducing taxes on farmers and encouraging the
growth of industry.
He also tolerated non-Muslims in the Safavid
Empire.
In the late 1700s, the Safavid Empire fell due to fighting between Shiites and
Sunni Muslims and the Qajars took power and established a capital at
Tehran.