Chapter 4.2 II. Muslim 7.2.4

• After the early spread of , three large Islamic empires formed—the Ottoman, Safavid, and .

A. Muslims ruled the Ottoman , which was a political and cultural force.

1. The Ottomans were aided 4. During Suleyman’s rule, by slave soldiers called the Janissaries. reached its cultural peak. 2. They had new – Poets wrote beautiful weapons, such as the works. . – Architects turned 3. Mehmed II and Suleyman Istanbul into a Muslim I led conquests that city. turned the Ottomans into 5. Women had limited a world power. freedom.

B. Ottoman Government and Society

1. The , or Ottoman ruler, issued and made all major decisions in the empire. 2. Ottoman society was divided into two classes. – Judges and people who advised the sultan were part of the ruling class. – Those who didn’t fit into the ruling class made up the other class. Many of these were Christians or Jews from lands the Ottomans had conquered.

C. The Safavid Empire blended Persian cultural traditions with .

1. A conflict arose over who should be caliph. 2. Islam split into two groups. – The Shia thought that only members of Muhammad’s family could become caliphs. – The Sunni thought it did not matter as long as they were good Muslims and strong leaders.

D. The Safavid Empire

1. The Safavid Empire began when the Safavid leader Esma’il conquered Persia and made himself , or king. 2. He made Shiism the official religion of the empire. 3. The Safavids blended Persian and Muslim traditions. 4. The manufacturing of traditional products, such as handwoven , silk, and velvet, was encouraged.

E. The in left an impressive cultural heritage.

1. established the Mughal Empire, but it grew mostly under an named . 2. Akbar’s tolerant policies helped unify the empire. 3. A conflict of cultures led to the end of this empire, but resulted in a culture unique to the Mughal Empire. 4. Cultures that blended in the empire included – Muslims – – – Indians