The Muslim World Expands
Chapter 18
Section 1-The Ottomans Build a Vast
Empire
The Turks Move into Byzantium
• Ghazis-Anatolian Turks
that saw themselves as
warriors for Islam
• Ottomans-Followers of
Osman the most
successful ghazi
– Military Success based on
gun powder
– Some of the 1st people to
use cannons
The Turks Move into Byzantium
• Sultan-Meaning ‘overlord’ or
“one with power”
• Living under the Ottomans
– Used local officials appointed by
the sultan to rule conquered areas
– Muslims served in the Turkish
army and pay religious taxes
– Non-Muslims did not have to serve
in the army but paid a small tax in
return
The Turks Move into Byzantium
• Timur the Lame– Received the nickname
after taking an arrow to
the leg
– Burned Baghdad to
the ground
– Crushed the Ottomans
in the Battle of Ankara
(1402)
Powerful Sultans Spur Dramatic
Expansion
• Mehmed II– Nicknamed Mehmed the
Conqueror
– Attacked Constantinople
• Fired a 1,200lb bolder out of
a 26-foot gun and ships
• After conquering the city he
renamed it Istanbul opened
it up to Christians, Jews,
Muslims, Turks and nonTurks
Powerful Sultans Spur Dramatic
Expansion
• Suleyman the Lawgiver– Ruled for 46 years
– Created penalties for
various criminal acts,
bureaucratic and
financial corruption
– Also introduced the
concept of a balanced
budget to governments
Powerful Sultans Spur Dramatic
Expansion
• Suleyman the Lawgiver– Studied poetry, history,
geography, astronomy,
mathematics and
architecture
– Because of Islamic law
he was tolerant of other
religions
– Supported art and
literature
Powerful Sultans Spur Dramatic
Expansion
• Devshirme System-Members
of the sultan’s army drafted
from the Christian boys of
conquered territories.
– Converted to Islam, and
educated them
• Janissaries-Elite force of
30,000 soldiers trained to be
loyal only to the sultan.
Section 3-The Mughal Empire in India
Early History of the Mughals
• Mughals-Means Mongols
– Group of nomadic invaders
in Central Asia
• 1494-Babur inherits the
kingdoms of Uzbekistan
and Tajikistan at the age of
11
– Swept down into India and
laid the foundations for the
Mughal Empire
Early History of the Mughals
• Akbar-Ruled India from
1556 to 1605
– Babur’s grandson
– Ruled with wisdom and
tolerance
– Created his own religion the
“Divine Faith”
• He offended Muslims so
much that they tried to revolt
against him in 1581
Early History of the Mughals
• Art and Literature– Illustrated books
flourished
• Miniatures-Small
highly detailed,
colorful paintings
– Hindu literature
also saw a
resurgence during
Akbar’s time
Akbar’s Successors
• Shah Jahan– Killed anyone who
got in his way of
being king
– Had two great
passions in life:
• Beautiful buildings
• His wife Mumtaz
Mahal
– Sadly she died at age
39 while giving birth
to their 14th child
Akbar’s Successors
• Taj MahalTowering marble
dome built as a
memorial to Mumtaz
Mahal following her
death
– Referred to as the
most beautiful
building in the world
Akbar’s Successors
• Aurangzeb- Shah Jahan’s 3rd
son
– Took power when Shah became
sick
– Expanded the Mughal Empire to
it’s greatest size
– Oppressed the people
• Strict Islamic law (sharia) banned
gambling, drinking, and other vices
• Taxed non-Muslims and was cruel
to Hindus
The Empire’s Decline and Decay
• Reasons for the Empire’s
Decline– Aurangzeb had drained it’s
resources
– 2 million people died of
hunger
– As central power weakened
the power of local lords
grew
– The power of western
traders began to increase