Download The Ottomans and the Safavids

The Ottomans and the Safavids
Global History and Geography I
E. Napp
Name: ___________________
Date: ___________________
The Ottoman Turks, a people from Central Asia, became rulers of the
Islamic world in the 13th century. In 1453, they succeeded in capturing
Constantinople; capital of what remained of the Byzantine Empire, which
they renamed Istanbul. The Ottomans also conquered Egypt and North
Africa, re-uniting the Muslim world under their rule except for Persia and
Afghanistan. By the mid-1500s, under the leadership of Suleiman the
Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire was the largest in the world.
At the heart of the Ottoman system of government was the Sultan or ruler
and his court in Istanbul. Under the Sultan’s rule, the Ottoman Empire was
well-organized and efficiently governed. The Sultan controlled his entire
empire as an all-powerful ruler. However, the Ottomans did recognize
cultural diversity by letting Christian and Jewish communities largely
govern themselves. Ottoman control over the crossroads of trade promoted
prosperity and stability for several centuries.
Questions:
1: Who were the Ottoman Turks and what did they do?
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2: What happened to Constantinople in 1453?
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3: Who was the most significant Ottoman ruler? Why was he the most
significant ruler?
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4: Were the Ottomans tolerant? Defend your answer.
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5: Why was the region controlled by the Ottomans considered a crossroads
of trade?
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The Safavids (present-day Iranians) created an empire in Persia in the early
1500s, extending as far south as the Persian Gulf and east to the Indus River.
The Safavids were Shi’ite Muslims. This made them hostile to the
Ottomans, who followed the Sunni branch of Islam. Safavid rulers, known
as Shahs, used their large armies to maintain control of their empire. They
also did much to encourage trade. Miniature paintings also flourished in
Safavid Persia, as well as the production of beautiful rugs. Literature,
medicine, and the study of astronomy thrived. However, high taxes and
continuous warfare with the Ottomans gradually weakened the Safavids. In
1722, the Safavid Empire was conquered by neighboring Afghanistan.
Questions:
1- Who were the Safavids and what did he do?
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2- Why were the Safavids and Ottomans hostile to each other given that
they were both Muslims?
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3- Who were the Shahs and how did they maintain control of their
empire?
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4- What were the accomplishments of the Safavids?
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5- What factors led to the collapse of the Safavid Empire?
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Answer the following questions from recent lessons:
A major reason for Zheng He’s voyages during the 15th century was to
(1) promote trade and collect tribute
(2) establish colonies in Africa and India
(3) seal off China’s borders from foreign influence
(4) prove the world was round
From the 15th to the 18th centuries, absolute monarchs of Europe and Asia sought
to
(1) increase the power of the Catholic Church
(2) centralize their political power
(3) redistribute land to the peasants
(4) strengthen feudalism
Which person is credited with saying “L’état, c’est moi” (I am the state)?
(1) Louis XIV
(2) John Locke
(3) Karl Marx
(4) Queen Isabella
In 1453, the Ottoman Empire rose to power by defeating the
(1) Holy Roman Empire
(2) European crusaders
(3) Byzantine Empire
(4) Mongol invaders
The Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights were created
to
(1) limit the power of English monarchs
(2) establish laws protecting the rights of Protestants
(3) organize England’s colonial empire
(4) abolish the role of Parliament
One similarity in the rule of Peter the Great, Suleiman I, and Louis XIV is that each
leader
(1) shared power with a legislature
(2) practiced religious toleration
(3) expanded his territory
(4) decreased the amount of taxes collected
What is the difference between Sunnis and Shi'ites?
The Sunnis and the Shi'ites compose the two main branches of Islam,
similar to the way Christianity has two main branches (Catholicism and
Protestantism).
Shi'ites believe that Islam should be led by descendants of Muhammad,
while Sunnis believe that the leader of Islam should be appointed by election
and consensus.
Sunnis make up 84 to 90 percent of the world's Muslims. The word Sunni
refers to the words and actions of Muhammad. The Sunnis try to follow
Muhammad's example of how to live as a Muslim.
After Muhammad's death, some Muslims began to believe that his daughter
Fatima and — more importantly — Fatima's husband, 'Ali, were the best
sources of the Koran and Islam. Therefore, Fatima and 'Ali should have
succeeded Muhammad. The term Shi'a refers to the party of 'Ali, and Shi'ites
believe that religious and political leadership of Islamic communities should
emulate 'Ali and Fatima.
Sunnis and Shi'ites have strong disagreements. Some Shi'ite rituals are
highly offensive to Sunnis, and Shi'ites often fear that Sunnis will eventually
require them to follow Sunni law. The violence in Iraq since Saddam
Hussein's overthrow is a prime example of this tension. Even though Sunni
Islam makes up an overwhelming majority of the world's Muslims, in Iraq,
the Shi`ites are the majority, but Saddam Hussein was a Sunni and when he
was in power, the Sunnis ruled. Now with a democracy in place in Iraq, the
Shi'ites have much more political clout than Sunnis, and fear is making the
Sunnis retaliate.
Sufis are another large group of Muslims. Sufism is not a sect like Sunni or
Shi'ite, but rather its Islamic mysticism. So, a Sufi is also either a Sunni or a
Shi'ite. There are many orders of Sufism, just like there are many monastic
orders in Roman Catholicism.
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