Intro 2 Flashcards
(25 cards)
What time period did the Ottoman Empire exist?
1299 – 1922
Which regions did the Ottoman Empire primarily control?
Most of the Middle East & North Africa, parts of Europe including the Balkans and Istanbul.
What was the life cycle of the Ottoman Empire?
Expansive phase until late 17th century; defensive against European powers afterwards, surviving until World War 1.
What time period did the Safavid Empire exist?
1501 – 1736
Which region did the Safavid Empire control?
Iran (Persia)
What was the life cycle of the Safavid Empire?
Emerges as competitor to the Ottomans; the only empire to fall to new nomadic conquerors.
What time period did the Mughal Empire exist?
1526 – 1857
Which regions did the Mughal Empire control?
Today’s India and Pakistan
What was the life cycle of the Mughal Empire?
Expansive phase until early 18th century; reduced to a hollow shell by the 1750s with British dominance.
What characterized the historical characteristics of the Islamic World?
An urban civilization and located between two great zones of nomadism.
Name three major cities in the Islamic civilization.
- Damascus
- Baghdad
- Cairo
Which city served as the Ottoman capital?
Istanbul (formerly Constantinople)
What type of architecture is represented by the Mosque of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman?
Ottoman architecture
What were the functions of the side buildings of the Suleiman Mosque?
- Islamic schools
- Medical school and hospital
- Inn for merchants and travelers
- Public baths
- Soup-kitchen
What were Janissaries in the Ottoman Empire?
A corps of slave soldiers and elite force.
How did the Ottomans acquire Janissaries?
Through the devsirme system, taking children from Christian Balkan populations.
What was the goal of the Janissary system?
To disconnect soldiers from any social bond, ensuring loyalty only to the Sultan.
True or False: The Janissaries were used as chattel labor.
False
Which empire used a similar system to the Janissaries and what were their soldiers called?
The Safavid Empire; their soldiers were called Ghulam.
What was a major distinction between the Ottoman and Safavid empires?
The Safavid adherence to Shia Islam, enforced on their Muslim population.
What is the historical background of the Sunni and Shia distinction?
Disputes about the succession of Mohammed in the 7th century.
What was the consequence of the Safavid adoption of Shia Islam?
Shia Islam became centered in Iran, creating a geographical fault line between Sunni and Shia Islam.
What role did clerics play in the Safavid Empire compared to the Ottoman Empire?
Clerics in the Safavid Empire were more critical of the ruler and politically more important.
Fill in the blank: The Safavid rulers transformed Shia Islam from a minority faith into a _______.
state religion
