Abbasid Dynasty,
Seljuk Turks &
Mongols
 How & when was Islam introduced
into the Empire?
 Locate and mark the empire (&
major cities) on the map provided.
 What type of diffusion brought
Islam into the empire: Relocation or
Expansion? If it was expansion, then
was it contagious or hierarchical?
 What people or conditions helped
the spread or acceptance of Islam in
the empire?
 What people or conditions hindered
the spread or acceptance of Islam in
the empire?
Recognize
Elements of
Diffusion in:
Abbasid Dynasty.
Seljuk Turk Empire
& Mongol Empire
What impact did Islam
have on the:
Culture
History
Literature
Architecture
Politics
(Be sure that you
discuss the impact of
Islam on each of these
specifically.)
Analyze Impact of
Islam on the
Abbasid Dynasty,
Seljuk Turk
Empire & Mongol
Empire
HAVE YOU COMPLETED THESE
QUESTIONS FOR ALL THREE “EMPIRES”?
IF SO, THEN PROCEED TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.
Contagious
Diffusion: born out
of the Umayyad
Dynasty
Carriers:
Soldiers/Conquest,
original
descendants of
Muhammad’s
followers
Barriers: non-Arab
Muslims
Culture/History: Shift in importance
from warriors to judges, merchants &
gov’t officials; Arab & non-Arab
Muslims granted equity (based on
Islam ideal of equality)
Literature/Architecture: Golden Age of
caliphate under Harun al-Rashid - $ &
support given to artists and writers
Politics: bureaucracy becomes more
complex & introduction of vizier gives
caliph a bigger sense of spirituality
Relocation
Diffusion: hired as
soldiers in the
Fatamid Dynasty
(an Islamic Empire
in Egypt) & the
Abbasid caliphate
Carriers:
rulers/government
Barriers: nomadic
traditions
Culture/History/Politics:
created an even more complex
bureaucracy – Turkish sultan
held political and military
power while the Abbasid caliph
was still the religious authority
Literature/Architecture:
Expanded Islamic influence into
the Byzantine Empire, which
meant the introduction of
Islamic style architecture
Contagious
Diffusion
Carriers:
neighbors
Barriers: Mongol
traditions;
prejudice
Culture/History/Politics:
Because of the
destruction of Baghdad,
the center of Islamic
culture shifted to Cairo,
Egypt
Literature/Architecture:
Eventually had to rebuild
the cities that were
destroyed by the Mongol
invaders
SPREAD OF ISLAM: Among the reasons for the rapid and
peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine.
Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship.
The Gunpowder Empires - Muslim
empires of the time; the empires
success is largely based on the
mastery of the technology of
firearms.
Contagious Diffusion:
descendants of the Turks
Part of Hierarchical Diffusion
of Islam into new areas – as
the rulers they imparted their
faith & Relocation Diffusion as
they expanded into new
territories
Carriers: Soldiers (janissaries)
Wall around the city of
Constantinople; Hungarians
Impact of Islam: Culture
Sunni Muslims. Sultans had claimed the
title of caliph since the 16th century. They
were responsible for guiding the flock
and keeping Islamic law.
Gave their religious duties to the
“ulema”- a group of religious advisors Shari’ah Law – more tolerant of women
Schools for educating all Muslims
The Ottoman were tolerant of nonMuslims. Non-Muslims paid a tax, but
they were allowed to practice their
religion or to convert to Islam.
Impact of Islam: History
In the 14th century, the Ottomans
moved into the Balkans by taking
control of the Bosporus and the
Dardanelles.
April 6, 1453, the Ottoman Turks laid
siege to the city of Constantinople.
May 29, 1453, Constantinople fell to
the Ottoman Turks led by Mehmet II.
The Turks spent 3 days sacking the
city. Many people lost their lives inside
the city.
The city was later renamed Istanbul.
Selim I
Roxelana
Suleyman I
Impact of Islam: Politics
Sultans were the head of the empire –
hereditary rule.
The chief advisor to the sultan was the
“grand vizier.”
The empire was divided into districts and
ruled by officials who were helped by
bureaucrats trained at palace schools.
Pashas, appointed local government officials,
collected taxes and maintained law and order
reported to the sultan in Constantinople
Impact of Islam: Art
Textiles & Rugs
Jewelry
Pottery
Impact of Islam: Architecture
Mosques
Sinan the Architect
Domes & Minerats
Changed the architectural
landscape of Eastern Europe
and Northern Africa