The Muslim Empires: How Do Muslims Celebrate Their Beliefs?

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The Muslim

Empires 1450–1800
Section 1 The Ottoman Empire
Section 2 The Rule of the S.afavids
Section 3 The Grandeur of the Moguls

MAKING CONNECTIONS
How do Muslims celebrate
their beliefs?
Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, was built during the
Mogul Empire. The Muslims shown here are offering prayers during
the celebration known as Eid-Al-Fitr, or the Celebration of Breaking the
Fast. In this chapter, you will learn more about the history and culture
of Muslims.
• What are the most widely practiced religions in the United States?
• How do other religious groups practice their beliefs?

1453
Ottomans, led 1529 1588
MUSLIM by Mehmed II,
lay siege to
Ottomans are
defeated at
Rule of Shāh `Abbās
begins, leading to peak
EMPIRES Constantinople Vienna of the S.afavid dynasty

1450 1500 1600

THE WORLD 1464 1534 1598


The Sunni dynasty Henry VIII creates the Japanese
in Africa begins Church of England unification begins

482
(l) Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY, (r) Bridgeman Art Library, Manish Swarup/AP Images
Muslim Key Events Religion Society
Empires and Rulers and Art and Culture
Ottoman
Empire
Categorizing . vid
Safa
Empire
Create a Folded
Mogul
1739 1757 Table to categorize Empire

Delhi is destroyed British forces, led information about


by Persians by Sir Robert Clive, the Ottoman, S.afavid, and Mogul
Empires. Information should include key
defeat the Moguls events and rulers, religion and art, and
society and culture.
1700 1800

1776
Thomas Jefferson writes the
Declaration of Independence (ISTORY /.,).%
Chapter Overview—Visit glencoe.com to preview Chapter 15.

Manish Swarup/AP Images, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution/Art Resource, NY


The Ottoman Empire
At its high point under Süleyman the Magnificent, the
GUIDE TO READING Ottoman Empire consisted of lands in western Asia, North
Africa, and Europe. The Ottomans contributed a unique
The BIG Idea
Competition Among Countries architectural design to world art, as seen in their magnificent
The Ottoman Empire grew strong as it expanded mosques. They also practiced religious tolerance, which allowed
its borders.
subjects to follow their own religion.
Content Vocabulary
• janissaries (p. 484)
• pashas (p. 486)
• sultan (p. 486)
• harem (p. 486)
Rise of the Ottoman Turks
• gunpowder empire • grand vizier (p. 487)
Over a span of three hundred years, the Ottomans conquered the
(p. 486) • ulema (p. 487)
Byzantine Empire and expanded into western Asia, Africa, and Europe to create the
Ottoman Empire.
Academic Vocabulary HISTORY & YOU What would you do if you were asked to defend your city or
• expand (p. 484) • domain (p. 486)
hometown against invaders that had more advanced weapons? Learn how the
Ottomans laid siege to the city of Constantinople.
People and Places
• Anatolian Peninsula • Constantiople (p. 485)
(p. 484) • Sultan Selim I (p. 485)
• Bosporus (p. 484) • Jerusalem (p. 485) In the late thirteenth century, a new group of Turks under their
• Dardanelles (p. 484) • Makkah (p. 485) leader Osman began to build power in the northwest corner of the
• Sea of Marmara • Madinah (p. 486) Anatolian Peninsula. In the early fourteenth century, the Osman
(p. 484) • Sinan (p. 488) Turks began to expand and began the Ottoman dynasty.
• Mehmed II (p. 485)

Reading Strategy Expansion of the Empire Constantinople


Black Sea

Organizing Information Create a chart The Ottomans expanded west- Dardanelles


Bosporus
to show the structure of the Ottoman society. List ward and eventually controlled the
Aegean Sea of
groups in order of importance. Bosporus and the Dardanelles. Sea Marmara
Sultan These two straits (narrow passage-
ways), separated by the Sea of
Marmara, connect the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
the Aegean Sea, which leads to the
Mediterranean. The Byzantine
Empire had controlled this area for centuries.
In the fourteenth century, the Ottoman Turks expanded into the
Balkans. The Ottoman rulers built a strong military by developing
an elite guard called janissaries. Recruited from the local Chris-
tian population, the janissaries were converted to Islam. Trained as
foot soldiers or administrators, they served the sultan.
As knowledge of firearms spread in the late fourteenth century,
the Ottomans began to master the new technology. The janissaries,
trained as a well-armed infantry, were able to spread Ottoman con-
trol in the Balkans. With their new forces, the Ottomans defeated
the Serbs at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. During the 1390s, they
advanced northward and annexed Bulgaria.

484
EXPANSION OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE TO 1699

Aral
10°E 20°E 30°E 50°E Sea
ni 40°E

D
epe
r Riv 60°E
er
Paris Dan
ube R
ive Dn PODOLIA 0 800 kilometers
r iest
ATLANTIC er Ri
FRANCE Vienna 1529 & 1683 ver
0 800 miles
OCEAN MOLDAVIA
AUSTRIA Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
Mohács 1526 HUNGARY
40°
N
Kosovo WALACHIA
1389 Black Sea
ITALY Caspian
Balkan Constantinople Sea
Corsica Rome Peninsula ( İstanbul) 1453
SPAIN
BULGARIA
ra
St

it Sardinia Tig
of ris
G i br PERSIA
altar Algiers Sicily

R iv
Lepanto Anatolian Euphr

er
1571 Peninsula ates
Ri
Tunis ve
r Baghdad
Me Crete
dite Cyprus
rran
ean S Pe
30°N Tripoli ea Jerusalem rsi
an
AFRICA Gu
lf
Cairo

N EGYPT ARABIA

Ni

Re
E
le Madinah (Medina)
W

d
Ri
ve

Se
r
S

a
Makkah (Mecca)
1. Location Name the places and
dates for three battles that took
place as the Ottomans expanded Ottoman lands, c. 1300
into Europe. Territorial growth:
2. Place Locate places of strategic c. 1300–1326 (Osman) 1520–1566 (Süleyman l
1326–1451 the Magnificent)
importance for Ottoman expansion.
1451–1481 (Mehmed II) 1566–1699
See Student WorksTM Plus 1481–1520 (ending Battle
or glencoe.com. under Selim I)

The Byzantine Empire walls were breached, and Ottoman soldiers


Over the next three hundred years, poured into the city.
Ottoman rule expanded to areas in western The Byzantine emperor died in the final
Asia, North Africa, and Europe. battle, and a great three-day sack of the
Under the leadership of Mehmed II, city began. When Mehmed II saw the ruin
the Ottomans moved to end the Byzan- and destruction, he lamented, “What a city
tine Empire. With eighty thousand we have given over to plunder and
troops ranged against only seven thou- destruction.”
sand defenders, Mehmed laid siege to
Constantinople. Western Asia and Africa
The attack began on April 6, 1453, as the With their new capital at Constantinople

Ottomans bombarded the city with massive (later renamed Istanbul), the Ottoman Turks
cannons hurling stone balls weighing up to dominated the Balkans and the Anatolian
1,200 pounds (545 kg) each. The Byzantines Peninsula. From 1514 to 1517, Sultan Selim I
took their final stand behind the walls took control of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and
along the western edge of the city. They Arabia—the original heartland of Islam.
fought desperately for almost two months Through these conquests, Selim I was now
to save their city. Finally, on May 29, the in control of several of Islam’s holy cities.

CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 485


These cities included Jerusalem, Makkah
(Mecca), and Madinah (Medina). Selim
The Ottoman World
declared himself the new caliph. That is, The Ottomans created a strong empire
he was the defender of the faith and the with religious tolerance and artistic achievements.
successor to Muhammad. After their victo-
HISTORY & YOU What jobs do people have in your
ries in the east, Ottoman forces spent the city or county government? Learn how the Ottomans
next few years advancing westward along trained bureaucrats in a palace school.
the African coast almost to the Strait of
Gibraltar.
The Ottomans were Muslims. Where Under the rule of the sultans, the Ottoman
possible, they administered their con- Empire grew strong. Religious tolerance
quered regions through local rulers. The and unique architectural designs, as seen
central government appointed officials, or in the mosques, were among the Ottoman
pashas, who collected taxes, maintained Empire’s strengths and contributions.
law and order, and were directly responsible
to the sultan’s court in Constantinople.
The Nature of Ottoman Rule
Like the other Muslim empires in Persia
Expansion into Europe and India, the Ottoman Empire is often
After capturing Constantinople in 1453, labeled a “gunpowder empire.” Gun-
the Ottoman Turks tried to complete their powder empires were formed by outside
conquest of the Balkans. They took the conquerors who unified the regions that
Romanian territory of Walachia, but the they conquered. As the name suggests,
Hungarians stopped their advance up the such an empire’s success was largely
Danube Valley. based on its mastery of the technology of
Under Süleyman I, whose reign began in firearms.
1520, the Ottomans advanced anew up the At the head of the Ottoman system was
Danube, seized Belgrade, and won a major the sultan, who was the supreme author-
victory over the Hungarians in 1526 at the ity in both a political and a military sense.
Battle of Mohács (MOH•hach) on the The position of the sultan was hereditary.
Danube. They then conquered most of A son, although not necessarily the eldest,
Hungary and moved into Austria. They always succeeded the father. This practice
advanced to Vienna, where they were led to struggles over succession upon the
defeated in 1529. At the same time, they death of individual sultans. The losers in
advanced into the western Mediterranean these struggles were often executed.
until the Spanish destroyed a large Ottoman
fleet at Lepanto in 1571 (see Chapter 14).
During the first half of the seventeenth The Imperial Sultans
century, the Ottoman Empire in eastern As the empire expanded, the status and
Europe remained a “sleeping giant.” Occu- prestige of the sultan increased. The position
pied with internal problems, the Ottomans took on the trappings of imperial rule. A
kept the status quo in eastern Europe. How- centralized administrative system was
ever, in the second half of the seventeenth adopted, and the sultan became increas-
century, they again went on the offensive. ingly isolated from his people.
By mid-1683, the Ottomans had laid The private domain of the sultan was
siege to Vienna. Repulsed by a European called the harem (“sacred place”). Here,
History army, the Ottomans retreated and were the sultan and his wives resided. Often a
ONLINE pushed out of Hungary. Although they sultan chose four wives as his favorites.
Student Web retained the core of their empire, the Ottoman When a son became a sultan, his mother
Activity— Turks would never again be a threat to became known as the queen mother and
Visit glencoe.com and
central Europe. acted as a major adviser to the throne.
complete the activity
on the Ottoman This tradition often gave considerable
Empire. ✓Reading Check Identifying What was the power to the queen mother in the affairs
capital of the new Ottoman Empire? of state.

486 SECTION 1 The Ottoman Empire


Topkapi Palace

Islam forbids the depiction of human figures because of a belief


that it might encourage idolatry. Thus geometric designs decorate
the painted tiles in the Topkapi Palace.

The Topkapi Palace, the administrative center of the


Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years, was begun soon
The Topkapi Palace overlooks the after Constantinople was conquered.
Bosporus and Sea of Marmara, part of
an essential trade route connecting 1. Describing Describe the link between faith and art
the Aegean and Black Seas. in the tile work of the Topkapi Palace.
2. Theorizing What was the symbolic importance of
where the Topkapi Palace was located?

The sultan controlled his bureaucracy Religion in the Ottoman World


through an imperial council that met four Like most Turkic-speaking peoples in
days a week. The grand vizier, a chief min- the Anatolian Peninsula and throughout
ister who carried the main burdens of the western Asia, the Ottomans were Sunni
state, led the meetings of the council. Muslims (see Chapter 6). Ottoman sultans
During the council meetings, the sultan sat had claimed the title of caliph since the
behind a screen, overhearing the proceed- early sixteenth century. In theory, they
ings, and then privately indicated his were responsible for guiding the flock and
desires to the grand vizier. maintaining Islamic law. In practice, the
The empire was divided into provinces sultans gave their religious duties to a
and districts, each governed by officials. group of religious advisers known as the
They were assisted by bureaucrats who had ulema. This group administered the legal
been trained in a palace school for officials system and schools for educating Muslims.

in Istanbul. The sultan gave land to the Islamic law and customs were applied to
senior officials. They were then responsible all Muslims in the empire.
for collecting taxes and supplying armies The Ottoman system was generally tol-
for the empire from this landed area. erant of non-Muslims, who made up a
The Topkapi (“iron gate”) Palace in significant minority within the empire. Non-

Istanbul, the new name for Constantino- Muslims paid a tax, but they were allowed
ple, was the center of the sultan’s power. to practice their religion or to convert to
The palace was built in the fifteenth cen- Islam. Most people in the European areas of
tury by Mehmed II. Like Versailles in the empire remained Christian. In some
France, it had an administrative purpose areas, however, such as present-day Bosnia,
and served as the private residence of the large numbers of non-Muslims converted
ruler and his family. to the Islamic faith.

CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 487


(inset) Age Fotostock/SuperStock, (bkgd) Arthus-Bertrand/CORBIS
Architecture and the Arts
Ali Meyer/CORBIS

The sixteenth century also witnessed


The Ottoman sultans were enthusiastic the flourishing of textiles and rugs. The
patrons of the arts. The period from Mehmed Byzantine emperor Justinian had introduced
II to the early eighteenth century witnessed silk cultivation to the West in the sixth cen-
a flourishing production of pottery; rugs, tury. Under the Ottomans, the silk industry
silk, and other textiles; jewelry; and arms and resurfaced. Factories produced silks for
armor. All of these adorned the palaces of the wall hangings, sofa covers, and especially
rulers. Artists came from all over the world to court costumes. Rugs were a peasant
compete for the sultans’ generous rewards. industry. The rugs were made of wool and
By far the greatest contribution of the cotton in villages from different regions.
Ottoman Empire to world art was in archi- Each village boasted its own distinctive
tecture, especially the magnificent mosques designs and color schemes.
of the last half of the sixteenth century. The
Ottoman Turks modeled their mosques on Society and the Role of Women
the open floor plan of Constantinople’s The subjects of the Ottoman Empire were
Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, creating divided by occupation. In addition to the
a prayer hall with an open central area ruling class, there were four main occupa-
under one large dome. tional groups: peasants, artisans, merchants,
In the mid-sixteenth century, the greatest and pastoral peoples—nomadic herders.
of all Ottoman architects, Sinan, began Peasants farmed land that the state leased
building the first of his 81 mosques. One of to them.
Sinan’s masterpieces was the Suleymaniye Ultimate ownership of all land resided

Mosque in Istanbul. Each of his mosques with the sultan. Artisans were organized
was topped by an imposing dome, and according to craft guilds. Each guild pro-
often the entire building was framed with vided financial services, social security,
four towers, or minarets. and training to its members. Outside the
ruling elite, merchants were the most
privileged class in Ottoman society. They
were largely exempt from government
regulations and taxes and were able, in
many cases, to amass large fortunes. Pastoral
peoples were placed in a separate group
Süleyman the Magnificent with their own regulations and laws.
1495–1566 Ottoman Ruler Technically, women in the Ottoman
Empire were subject to the same restric-
The Ottoman ruler Süleyman held absolute tions as women in other Muslim societies.
power and the right of life or death over his sub- However, their position was somewhat
jects. Yet he was known as Kanuni, the Lawgiver, better. As applied in the Ottoman Empire,
who protected the powerless among his people. Islamic law was more tolerant in defining
Upon visiting his empire, a Venetian ambassador the legal position of women. This relatively
reported, “I know of no State which is happier than tolerant attitude was probably due to Turk-
this one. It is furnished with all God’s gifts. . . .” ish traditions that regarded women as
Süleyman was skilled in crafts as well as in almost equal to men. For instance, women
government and war. He supported the arts and built were allowed to own and inherit property.
public baths, bridges, and grand mosque complexes.
They could not be forced into marriage
However, this educated man would be forced to kill two
and, in certain cases, were permitted to
of his sons and even his grandsons to avoid civil war
and preserve the throne for his son Selim II. His choice seek divorce. Women often gained consid-
could have been better. Known as the Drunkard, erable power within the palace. In a few
Selim II left the running of the state to his advisers, instances, women even served as senior
and many date the slow decline of the empire officials, such as governors of provinces.
to his reign. How did Süleyman’s choice of
a successor affect the Ottoman Empire? ✓Reading Check Identifying What did the
Ottomans contribute to world art?
Problems in the Ottoman Empire
After reaching its high point under Süleyman the
Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire began to disintegrate.
HISTORY & YOU Have you heard a parent or teacher voice disapproval Vocabulary
of a trend they felt was bad? Learn how some sultans tried to counter 1. Explain the significance of: Anatolian
trends they believed were harmful to their country. Peninsula, expand, Bosporus, Dardanelles,
Sea of Marmara, Mehmed II, janissaries,
Constantinople, Sultan Selim I, Jerusalem,
The Ottoman Empire reached its high point under Makkah, Madinah, pashas, gunpowder
Süleyman I. (He was called “the Magnificent” by Europeans empire, sultan, domain, harem, grand
who both feared and admired him.) It may also have been vizier, ulema, Sinan.
during Süleyman’s rule (1520–1566) that problems began
to occur, however. Having executed his two most able sons Main Ideas
on suspicion of treason, Süleyman was succeeded by his 2. Discuss how superior weaponry aided the
only surviving son, Selim II. Ottoman siege of Constantinople.
The problems of the Ottoman Empire did not become 3. Identify the four main occupational groups
visible until 1699. This is when the empire began to in the Ottoman Empire.
lose some of its territory. However, signs of internal 4. Summarize the contributions of Mehmed II,
disintegration had already appeared at the beginning of Selim I, and Süleyman I to the Ottoman
the 1600s. Empire, using a chart like the one below.
Effect on
Changes in Government Ruler Contributions Empire
After the death of Süleyman, sultans became less involved Mehmed II
in government. They allowed their ministers to exercise Selim I
more power. The training of officials declined, and senior Süleyman I
positions were increasingly assigned to the sons or daugh-
ters of elites. Members of the elite soon formed a privileged Critical Thinking
group seeking wealth and power. The central bureaucracy 5. The BIG Idea Drawing Inferences
lost its links with rural areas. Local officials grew corrupt, Describe the organization of Ottoman
and taxes rose. Constant wars depleted the imperial trea- government and explain why it was effective.
sury. Corruption and palace intrigue grew. 6. Evaluating Evaluate how the problems in
the Ottoman Empire may have begun during
the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent.
Cultural Changes 7. Analyzing Visuals Examine the image of
Another sign of change within the empire was the Topkapi Palace on page 487. What typical
exchange of Western and Ottoman ideas and customs. feature of the architect Sinan do you see?
Officials and merchants began to imitate the habits and
lifestyles of Europeans. They wore European clothes and
Writing About History
bought Western furniture and art objects. Europeans 8. Expository Writing The Ottoman Empire
borrowed Ottoman military technology and decorated was considered a “gunpowder empire.”
their homes with tiles, tulips, pottery, and rugs. During Research the history of gunpowder and
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, coffee was intro- write an essay explaining how the
duced to Ottoman society and spread to Europe. Ottomans acquired it. What impact did this
Some sultans attempted to counter this exchange. One acquisition have on the expansion of the
sultan in the early seventeenth century issued a decree Ottoman Empire? Use both primary and
outlawing both coffee and tobacco. He even began to secondary sources.

patrol the streets of Istanbul at night. If he caught any of
his subjects in immoral or illegal acts, he had them
immediately executed. (ISTORY /.,).%
For help with the concepts in this section of Glencoe World
✓Reading Check Summarizing What changes ultimately led to History, go to glencoe.com and click Study Central.
the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire?

489
LITHUANIA

MOLDAVIA
CRI MEA
H U N G A RY
Venice
Po R
.
EUROPE WALACHIA
e R.
ub Blac k Sea
an
A

D
PAPAL
d
ri

STATES Sofia
a
ti

O
c

Se T
a T Adrianople
10°E Rome
O Constantinople
M (İstanbul)
Naples A Ankara
Thessaloníki N
Bursa
40°N
EM
Aegean PI
Sea
RE

Smyrna
Athens
Sicily
Tunis

Cyprus
N
0 400 kilometers Crete
0 400 miles
W E
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection
M e d i t e r r a n e a n S e a
S
20°E
Jerusalem
30°E
Ottoman Empire, 1300–1451

N
Black Sea
W E

Bosporus S
Straits
İstanbul linked the
European and Asian
halves of the
Ottoman Empire. EUROPE
Roman Emperor Golden ASIA
Horn
Constantine founded İstanbul
Constantinople in 330. (Constantinople)

Route to the
Mediterranean Sea

0 10 kilometers

0 10 miles
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection

Araldo de Luca/CORBIS
The Fall of
A 1,500 foot chain strung
across the Golden Horn kept
Constantinople
enemy ships out.
Crossroads of Europe and Asia For centuries,
empires fought over the site of Constantinople because
of its strategic location. Constantinople was located
between Asia and Europe. The city controlled a choke
point, or narrow passageway, where overland trade
routes crossed the peninsula. Dominating the cross-
roads between continents, it became a wealthy trad-
The Bosporus
ing city.
The Bosporus, a strait, divides the peninsula and
links the Black Sea with the Mediterranean.
Constantinople was surrounded by water—The Golden
Horn, the Bosporus, and the Sea of Marmara—making
it easy to defend and giving it control of this important
passage between the Black Sea and the
Sea of Marmara
Mediterranean.
Walls and towers
surrounded the city, making New Rome In the fourth century, Emperor
it easy to defend. Constantine, recognizing its strategic importance, built
15th-century
a new capital for the Roman Empire on the site. The
city map of new Rome was named Constantinople—Constantine’s
Eu Tig
Constantinople City. When the Roman Empire split in A.D. 395,
ph
rat
es
ris R. Constantinople was the capital of the eastern half,
R.
which became the Byzantine Empire.
ASIA
A Turning Point in History By the time Mehmed II
laid siege to Constantinople, the city was all that
remained of the once powerful Byzantine Empire. On
May 29, 1453, the Turks took the city and linked the
40°E European and Asian parts of the Ottoman Empire.
·
Mehmed II renamed the city I stanbul. With the
Ottoman Empire in control of this important cross-
roads, Europeans looked to the seas for trading routes
to Asia. These explorations lead Europeans to Africa
and the Americas.

Sultan Mehmed II
conquered 1. Location What about İstanbul’s loca-
Constantinople tion made it an important trading
for the Ottoman
Empire in 1453.
center?
2. Place Examine the fifteenth century
map of Constantinople. Why would you
expect the city to control travel on the
waterways surrounding it?

CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 491


(t) HIP/Art Resource, NY, (b) Erich Lessing/Art Resource, NY
The Rule of the S∙ afavids
The shortest-lived of the three Muslim empires, the S∙afavid
GUIDE TO READING
Empire was nonetheless influential. The Shia faith, declared as
The BIG Idea the state religion, unified the empire. The empire reached its
Ideas, Beliefs, and Values The high point under the reign of Shāh ‘Abbās.
S∙afavids used their faith as a unifying force.

Content Vocabulary
• shah (p. 492)
The S∙ afavid Empire
• orthodoxy (p. 494)
Unified as a Shia nation, the S∙afavid Empire reached its height
• anarchy (p. 494) under Shaˉh ‘Abbaˉs.
HISTORY & YOU You and your friends probably have a bond because you
Academic Vocabulary believe in the same things. Learn how the S∙afavids unified their empire.
• administrator (p. 494) • successor (p. 494)

People and Events After the empire of Timur Lenk (Tamerlane) collapsed in the
• S∙afavids (p. 492)
early fifteenth century, the area extending from Persia into central
• Shaˉh Esmaˉ‘ıˉl (p. 492)
Asia fell into anarchy. At the beginning of the sixteenth century,
• Azerbaijan (p. 492)
however, a new dynasty known as the S.afavids (sah•FAH•weedz)
• Caspian Sea (p. 492)
took control. Unlike many of their Isamic neighbors who were
• Tabrıˉz (p. 492)
Sunni Muslims, the S.afavids became ardent Shias. (As discussed
• Eşfahaˉn (p. 493)
in Chapter 6, the Sunnis and Shias were the two major groups in
• Riza-i-Abbasi (p. 495)
the Islamic religion.)

Reading Strategy
Comparing and Contrasting The S∙ afavid Dynasty
As you read this section, use a Venn diagram like The S.afavid dynasty was founded by Shāh Esmā‘ı̄l (ihs•
the one below to compare and contrast the MAH•eel), the descendant of S.afı̄ od-Dı̄n (thus the name S.afa-
Ottoman and S∙afavid Empires. vid). In the early fourteenth century, S.afı̄ od-Dı̄n had been the
leader of a community of Turkish ethnic groups in Azerbaijan,
near the Caspian Sea.
Ottoman S∙afavid In 1501, Esmā‘ı̄l, in his teens at the time, used his forces to seize
Empire Empire
much of Iran and Iraq. He then called himself the shah, or king,
of a new Persian state. Esmā‘ı̄l sent Shia preachers into the Anato-
lian Peninsula to convert members of Turkish tribes in the Otto-
man Empire. The Ottoman sultan tried to halt this activity, but
Esmā‘ı̄l refused to stop. Esmā‘ı̄l also ordered the massacre of Sunni
Muslims when he conquered Baghdad in 1508.
Alarmed by these activities, the Ottoman sultan, Selim I,
advanced against the S.afavids in Persia. With their muskets and
artillery, the Ottomans won a major battle near Tabrıˉz. However,
Selim could not maintain control of the area. A few years later,
Esmā‘ı̄l regained Tabrıˉz.
During the following decades, the S.afavids tried to consolidate
their rule throughout Persia and in areas to the west. The S.afavids
were faced with the problem of integrating various Turkish peo-
ples with the settled Persian-speaking population of the urban

492
S∙ AVAFID EMPIRE, 1501–1722

Safavid
· Empire
Ottoman Empire
Mogul Empire 50°N
Lake
60°E 70°E
Azerbaijan Balkhash
Safavid-Ottoman conflict RUSSIA N
·
Safavid-Mogul conflict The Sheikh Lotfallah Mosque,
· E known for the fine tile work on
Aral
Black Sea W
Sea its dome and facade, was built in

Cas
40°N S
İstanbul 1602 in Eşfahaˉn by Shāh ‘Abbās.

pia
Am
!M@SNKH@M

u
0DMHMRTK@

Sea
ar
Samarqand

D
’y
-
Tabrız
a
(O
xu
s)
Tig
ris

up
E

Mediterranean hr
Sea Tehran -
Herat
at

Damascus Baghdad
es

Indus
Jerusalem -
Eşfahan
30°N
PERSIA

- -
Shıraz
Pe
Nile

Red

rsi

INDIA
Madinah (Medina)
an
Sea

Gu

ARABIA
lf

40°E 50°E
0 400 kilometers
20°N Makkah Arabian
0 400 miles
(Mecca) Lambert Conformal Conic projection
Sea

OTTOMAN EMPIRE S.AFAVID EMPIRE


Arose in early 1300s Arose in early 1500s
Expanded from northwest Anatolian
Controlled area from Persia into central
Peninsula to western Asia, eastern 1. Movement What geographic fac-
Asia; lost territory to Ottomans
Europe,
10
and North Africa tors hindered the expansion of the
°N
Allied with European states against S.afavid Empire to the east and
Attempted to conquer central Europe west?
Ottomans
Sunni Muslims Shia Muslims 2. Location What physical barriers
were to the north and south of the
Ruler: Sultan Ruler: Shah S.afavid Empire?
Was generally tolerant of non-Muslims Used Shia faith to unify peoples in
See Student Works™ Plus
in empire empire or glencoe.com.
Began slow decline in 1600s Collapsed in 1722

areas. The Shia faith was used as a unifying Sea with their fleet. This forced the new
force. Esmā‘ı̄l made conversion to the Shia S.afavid shah, ‘Abbās, to sign a peace treaty
faith mandatory for the largely Sunni in which he lost much territory in the
population. Many Sunnis were either northwest. The capital of the S.afavids was
killed or exiled. Like the Ottoman sultan, moved from the northwestern city of
the shah himself claimed to be the spiri- Tabrıˉz to the more centrally located city of
tual leader of all Islam. Eşfahaˉn. ‘Abbās adorned his new capital
In the 1580s, the Ottomans went on the city with the latest Persian architecture.
attack. They placed Azerbaijan under Eşfahaˉn became one of the world’s largest
Ottoman rule and controlled the Caspian cities with a population of one million.

CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 493


age fotostock/SuperStock
Glory and Decline began to increase at court and in S.afavid
Under Shāh ‘Abbās, who ruled from 1588 society at large.
to 1629, the S.afavids reached the high point Intellectual freedom marked the height
of their glory. Similar to the Ottoman of the empire. However, the pressure to
Empire, administrators were trained to run conform to traditional religious beliefs,
the kingdom. Shāh ‘Abbās also strength- called religious orthodoxy, increased. For
ened his army, which he armed with the example, Persian women had considerable
latest weapons. freedom during the early empire. Now
In the early seventeenth century, Shāh they were forced into seclusion and
‘Abbās moved against the Ottomans to required to adopt the wearing of the veil.
regain lost territories. Several European In the early eighteenth century, during
states aided ‘Abbās. The S.afavids had some the reign of Shah Hussein, Afghan peoples
initial success, but they could not hold all invaded and seized the capital of Eşfahaˉn.
their territorial gains against the Ottoman The remnants of the S.afavid ruling family
armies. Nevertheless, in 1612, a peace were forced to retreat to Azerbaijan, their
treaty was signed that returned Azerbaijan original homeland. The Turks took advan-
to the S.afavids. tage of the situation to seize territories
After the death of Shāh ‘Abbās in 1629, along the western border. Persia sank into
the S. afavid dynasty gradually lost its a long period of political and social anarchy
vigor. Most of ‘Abbās’s successors lacked (lawlessness and disorder).
his talent and political skills. Eventually, ✓Reading Check Identifying What led to the
the power of Shia religious elements fighting between Ottomans and S·afavids?

Conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq and attacks by terrorists


identifying themselves as Muslims have created an atmosphere
of fear in the United States. This has put American Muslims on
alert. Many are concerned that they might be forced out of
businesses and schools or even unjustly imprisoned for
crimes. Can Muslim Americans be confident that their civil
liberties will be protected?
Today, many Muslim organizations, working with
teachers across the nation, speak to students about the
religion of Islam. By sharing more information about their
faith and rich cultural heritage, they are working to
dissolve negative stereotypes.

• Protecting civil liberties for all requires


religious and cultural acceptance.
• Ensuring social justice means legislating
for the same basic rights, security, and
opportunities for all people.
 

   
1. Summarizing What are many Muslim organizations doing
to educate others about the Muslim faith and traditions?
A Muslim teen going to class at 2. Making Generalizations Why might it be difficult for
a high school in the United States. Muslim teens to maintain their Islamic identities in the
United States today?

Ed Kashi/CORBIS
Life under the S∙ afavids
The S∙afavid shahs played an active role in government
and trade, and they patronized the arts.
HISTORY & YOU Have you ever had to compete for a place on a team, Vocabulary
show, or leadership position? Learn how the S∙afavid shahs appointed 1. Explain the significance of: S∙afavids, Shaˉh
their top administrators. Esmaˉ‘ıˉl, Azerbaijan, Caspian Sea, shah,
Tabrıˉz, Eşfahaˉn, administrator, successor,
orthodoxy, anarchy, Riza-i-Abbasi.
Persia under the S.afavids was a mixed society. The
combination of Turkish and Persian elements affected
virtually all aspects of S.afavid society. Main Ideas
2. Describe how the S∙afavids tried to bring
the various Turkish and Persian peoples
Role of the Shah together.
The S.afavid rulers were eagerly supported by Shias. In 3. Summarize the significant events that
return, the shahs declared Shia Islam to be the state occurred during each shah’s reign by using
religion. Shahs were more available to their subjects than a chart like the one below.
were rulers elsewhere. “They show great familiarity to Shah Significant Events
strangers,” remarked one visitor, “and even to their own
subjects, eating and drinking with them pretty freely.”
Strong-minded shahs firmly controlled the power of the
landed aristocracy. In addition, appointment to senior
positions in the bureaucracy was based on merit rather 4. Explain why the S∙afavids may have found
than birth. For example, Shāh ‘Abbās hired a number of trade with Europe difficult.
foreigners from neighboring countries for positions in his
government.
Critical Thinking
5. The BIG Idea Explaining What was
Economy and Trade the shah’s role in S∙afavid society and
The S.afavid shahs played an active part in trade and government?
manufacturing activity. Most goods in the empire traveled 6. Evaluating What was the advantage in
by horse or camel caravans, and the roads were kept fairly moving the S∙afavid capital city from Tabrıˉz
clear of thieves and bandits. to Eşfahaˉn?
S.afavid Persia was probably not as prosperous as its 7. Analyzing Visuals Examine the map on
neighbors to the east and west—the Moguls and the page 493. Approximately how much
Ottomans. Hemmed in by the sea power of the Europeans territory did the S∙afavids gain between
to the south and the land power of the Ottomans to the 1501 and the height of the empire?
west, the S.afavids found trade with Europe difficult.
Writing About History
S∙ afavid Culture 8. Expository Writing Analyze the impact of
the S∙afavid Empire’s geographical location
Knowledge of science, medicine, and mathematics under on its economy (what goods could be
the S.afavids was equal to that of other societies in the traded, trading partners, goods in high
region. Persia also witnessed an extraordinary flowering demand). Compare the S∙afavid economy
of the arts during the reign of Shāh ‘Abbās. Silk weaving with that of another country.
and carpet weaving flourished, stimulated by the great
demand for Persian carpets in the West. Persian painting
enjoyed a long tradition. Riza-i-Abbasi, the most famous
artist of this period, created exquisite works. Soft colors
and flowing movement dominated the features of S.afavid
painting. (ISTORY /.,).%
For help with the concepts in this section of Glencoe World
✓Reading Check Explaining On what basis were appointments History, go to glencoe.com and click Study Central.
to senior bureaucratic positions made?

495
The Safavids:
·
At the Crossroads of Trade and of History
The nation known today as Iran has been at the center of world commerce for
centuries. From 1501 to 1722, the Safavid
· Empire unified Iran and added parts of
Turkey, Iraq, and Central Asia under their control. Trade with Europe was challenging
for the Safavids,
· but Iran (or Persia) was a vital connection between Asia and Europe
throughout several dynasties. The bazaar at Eşfahān, capitol under Shāh ‘Abbās, was
the center of Safavid
· economic power. Across the empire, bazaars in regional capitols
provided citizens with access to a variety of goods and merchandise.

A timce is a covered courtyard that


houses a few shops selling the same
special product. This one, the Timce
Malek, is famous for carpets. The bazaar sold household
goods, tools, and other general
merchandise besides luxury
items. Barter was a common
means of exchange.

A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING,


Safavid
· woven textiles
were an essential item in
the bazaar, and a vital
EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
part of overseas trade.
Merchants came from across Central Asia to trade in the Safavid
· region.
The bazaar was the heart of their commerce. Many bazaars were enclosed
and had high vaulted ceilings that covered narrow rows of stalls. Specific
sections that housed similar types of goods for shoppers’ convenience.
Spaces for manufacturing, storage, and merchants’ offices stood alongside
shops. Caravansaries attached to the bazaar received trains of camels or
mules loaded with goods. In the caravansary, newly arrived trade goods
were sold wholesale. In the bazaar, they were sold retail.

496
Caravansaries were vital
stops on the Silk Road, a
trade route that stretched
from China to Europe.

The caravansary also served as


lodging for visiting traders and their
animals. Its buildings formed a square
with a garden or well in its center.

Merchants from as far away as China conducted


business with the powerful Safavid
· merchant
class in the empire’s bazaars.

LONG ON TRADE,
SHORT ON COINS
ANALYZING VISUALS
The Safavids
· had a chronic shortage of coins in circulation. Silver coins,
like those above were used by the government to pay administrative 1. What role did currency play
costs, by merchants to pay for goods purchased in large trade deals and in Safavid
· trade?
by some to pay taxes. Soldiers and the urban lower class used copper 2. How might buyers have
coins. Their value changed from year to year and could only be traded reacted to shopping for an
for silver coins in large sums. Rural people bartered for goods and services, item in a timce? How might
merchants have felt about
and rarely saw coins. The empire’s elite hoarded its small number of being organized this way?
gold coins.

497
The Grandeur of the Moguls
Although they were not natives of India, the Moguls
GUIDE TO READING established a new dynasty by uniting the country under a
The BIG Idea single government with a common culture. The Mogul Empire
Ideas, Beliefs, and Values reached its high point under the reign of Shah Akbar. The Taj
A country’s society and its culture reflect the
Mahal, built by Shāh Jahān, is a fine example of the blending
shared heritage of its people.
of Persian and Indian influences in the Mogul Empire.
Content Vocabulary
• zamindars (p. 499) • suttee (p. 501)
The Mogul Dynasty
Academic Vocabulary
• intelligent (p. 498) • principle (p. 501) Uniting India under a single government, the Moguls established a
new dynasty but eventually lost their empire.
People and Events HISTORY & YOU What would you do if you owed $500 in taxes but had only
• Bābur (p. 498) • Aurangzeb (p. 501) $150? Learn how Akbar suspended the payment of taxes in hard times.
• Khyber Pass (p. 498) • Taj Mahal (p. 501)
• Delhi (p. 498) • Agra (p. 501)
• Akbar (p. 498) • Kolkata (p. 503)
In 1500, the Indian subcontinent was still divided into a number
• Shāh Jahān (p. 500) • Chennai (p. 503)
of Hindu and Muslim kingdoms. However, the Moguls established
• Deccan Plateau
a new dynasty and brought a new era of unity to the region.
(p. 500)
Rise of the Moguls
Reading Strategy
Summarizing Information As you
The Moguls were not natives of India. They came from the
read this section, create a chart listing the accom- mountainous region north of the Indus River valley. The founder
plishments and weaknesses of the Mogul rulers. of the Mogul dynasty was Bābur. His father was descended from
the great Asian conqueror Timur Lenk; his mother, from the Mongol
Ruler Accomplishments Weaknesses conqueror Genghis Khan. Bābur had inherited a part of Timur
Lenk’s empire in an upland river valley of the Syr Dar’ya. As a
youth, he led a group of warriors who seized Kabul in 1504. Thirteen
years later, Bābur’s forces crossed the Khyber Pass into India.
Bābur’s forces were far smaller than those of his enemies. How-
ever, they had advanced weapons, including artillery, and used
them to great effect. Bābur captured Delhi and established his
power in the plains of North India. He continued his conquests in
North India until his death in 1530 at the age of 47.

The Reign of Akbar


Bābur’s grandson Akbar was only 14 when he took the throne.
Intelligent and industrious, Akbar set out to extend his domain.
By 1605, he had brought Mogul rule to most of India.
How was Akbar able to place almost all of India under his rule?
By using heavy artillery, Akbar’s armies were able to overpower
the stone fortresses of their rivals. The Moguls were also successful
negotiators. Akbar’s conquests created the greatest Indian empire
since the Mauryan dynasty. The empire appeared highly centralized

498
65°E 70°E 75°E
Dar’ya EXPANSION OF THE MOGUL EMPIRE, 1530–1707
Syr
x rtes)
a
(Ja
Samarqand
80°E 85°E 90°E 95°E 100°E 105°E
Am
u Dar’ya
(O
xu s
)
H
US
DUK
HIN ¯
Mogul Empire, 1530 (death of Babur)
Kabul Khyber Territorial growth:
30°N
1504 Pass CHINA to 1605 (death of Akbar)
¯ Jahan)
to 1657 (imprisonment of Shah ¯
Panipat to 1707 (death of Aurangzeb)
1526, 1566
Mogul conquest
PERSIA ive
r
us R H I
25°N d M A
Delhi
In

L A Y A
1526 Agra
Ranthambhor
1569 Ganges Riv
e
Arabian

r
Chitor
Sea 1568
INDIA
20°N

Deccan Bay of
Bengal
INDIAN Plateau
15°N OCEAN

W 1. Human-Environment
E
Interaction What physical
10°N S
characteristic contributed to the
Moguls’ failure to expand south?
2. Movement How does this map
0 400 kilometers
support the text’s statement that
5°N 0 400 miles Akbar was the greatest of the
Two-Point Equidistant projection conquering Mogul monarchs?

See Student Works Plus


or glencoe.com.

but was actually a collection of semi- Akbar was also tolerant in his adminis-
independent states held together by the tration of the government. The upper ranks
power of the emperor. of the government bureaucracy were filled
Akbar was probably the greatest of the with nonnative Muslims, but many of the
conquering Mogul monarchs, but he is best lower-ranking officials were Hindus.
known for the humane character of his rule. It became common practice to give the
Like all Mogul rulers, Akbar was born a lower-ranking officials plots of farmland for
Muslim, but he adopted a policy of religious their temporary use. These local officials,
tolerance. As emperor, he showed a keen known as zamindars, kept a portion of the
interest in other religions and tolerated taxes paid by the peasants in lieu of a salary.
Hindu practices. He even welcomed the They were then expected to forward the
expression of Christian views by his Jesuit rest of the taxes from the lands under their
advisers at court. By taking a Hindu princess control to the central government. Zamindars
as one of his wives, Akbar put his policy of came to exercise considerable power and
religious tolerance into practice. authority in their local districts.

CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 499


The Rule of Akbar

Akbar aggressively expanded his empire


through military conquest. He created an
efficient bureaucracy to administer his empire.
Each imperial province was ruled by a military
governor who was held responsible for any
abuses of power, helping to ensure fair rule.
Taxes were levied equally.
Akbar, a Muslim, was accepting of other
faiths. He eliminated a special tax on non-
Muslims and included many Hindus in his
bureaucracy. He granted
“A monarch should be ever intent on a degree of autonomy to
conquest; otherwise his neighbors Hindu regions, allowing
rise in arms against him.” Hindus to keep their own
—Akbar the Great
laws. These actions helped
to win over many Hindus
to Mogul rule.
Akbar saw himself as a
philosopher-king who was
The illustration at right from the responsible for guiding his
Akbarnama (History of Akbar) people spiritually. Though
shows officials paying homage to
he believed in tolerance, he
Akbar in central India about 1560.
developed a new religion
1. Explaining Explain Akbar’s atti- called “The Religion of God”
tude toward military conquest. for which he sought willing
2. Analyzing What was the key to followers.
Akbar’s successful rule?

Overall, the Akbar era was a time of Jahāngı̄r was able and ambitious. During
progress, at least by the standards of the the early years of his reign, he continued to
day. All Indian peasants were required to strengthen the central government’s con-
pay about one-third of their annual harvest trol over his vast empire.
to the state, but the system was applied Eventually, however, his grip began to
justly. When bad weather struck in the weaken when he fell under the influence
1590s, taxes were reduced or suspended of one of his wives, Persian-born Nu –r
altogether. Thanks to a long period of peace Jahān. As Jahāngı̄r slowly lost interest in
and political stability, trade and manufac- governing, he gave more authority to Nu –r
turing flourished. Jahān. The empress used her position to
The era was an especially prosperous one enrich her own family. She arranged the
in the area of foreign trade. Indian goods, marriage of her niece to her husband’s
notably textiles, tropical food products and third son and successor, Shāh Jahān.
spices, and precious stones, were exported During his reign from 1628 to 1658, Shāh
in exchange for gold and silver. Arab traders Jahān maintained the political system
handled much of the foreign trade because established by earlier Mogul rulers. He
the Indians, like their Mogul rulers, did also expanded the boundaries of the empire
not care for travel by sea. through successful campaigns in the
Deccan Plateau and against the city of
Samarqand, north of the Hindu Kush.
Decline of the Moguls Shāh Jahān’s rule was marred by his fail-
Akbar died in 1605 and was succeeded ure to deal with growing domestic
by his son Jahāngı̄r (juh•HAHN•gihr). problems, however. He had inherited a

500 SECTION 3 The Grandeur of the Moguls


(l) Private Collection/Dinodia/Bridgeman Art Library, (r) Stapleton Collection/Victoria & Albert Museum, London/Bridgeman Art Library
nearly empty treasury. His military cam-
paigns and expensive building projects put
Life in Mogul India
a heavy strain on the imperial finances and The Mogul society and its culture were
compelled him to raise taxes. The peasants both Muslim and Hindu.
were even more deprived as a result of
HISTORY & YOU Do you know someone from a
these taxes. The majority of Jahān’s sub- family with more than one religion? Learn how Indian
jects lived in poverty. society and culture reflected a shared heritage.
Shāh Jahān’s troubles worsened with
his illness in the mid-1650s. It was widely
reported that he had died. Such news led The Moguls were foreigners in India. In
to a struggle for power among his sons. addition, they were Muslims ruling a
Battles were fought; alliances and defec- largely Hindu population. The resulting
tions were made. The victorious son, blend of influences on the lives of ordinary
Aurangzeb, had his brother put to death Indians could be complicated. The treat-
and imprisoned his father. Aurangzeb then ment of women serves as a good example.
had himself crowned emperor in 1658.
Aurangzeb is one of the most controver- Society and the Role of Women
sial rulers in the history of India. During Women had long played an active role in
his reign, the empire reached its greatest Mogul tribal society. Mogul rulers often
physical size. Constant warfare and reli- relied on female relatives for political advice.
gious intolerance, however, made his sub- To a degree, these Mogul attitudes toward
jects resentful. women affected Indian society. Women from
As man of high principle, Aurangzeb aristocratic families frequently received sal-
attempted to eliminate many of what he aries and were allowed to own land.
considered to be India’s social evils. He At the same time, the Moguls placed cer-
forbade the Hindu custom of suttee (cre- tain restrictions on women under their inter-
mating a widow on her husband’s funeral pretations of Islamic law. These practices
pyre), and he put a stop to the levying of generally were adopted by Hindus. The
illegal taxes. He tried to forbid gambling practice of isolating women, for example,
and drinking as well. was followed by many upper-class Hindus.
Aurangzeb was a devout Muslim and In other ways, however, Hindu practices
adopted a number of measures that remained unchanged by Mogul rule. The
reversed the Mogul policies of religious custom of suttee continued in spite of
tolerance. For instance, he imposed a tax efforts by the Moguls to abolish it. Child
on non-Muslims. Also, he prohibited the marriage also remained common.
building of new Hindu temples, and he The Mogul era saw the emergence of a
forced Hindus to convert to Islam. wealthy nobility and a prosperous mer-
Aurangzeb’s policies led to Hindu out- chant class. During the late eighteenth cen-
cries and domestic unrest. He even received tury, this prosperity was shaken by the
criticism from Shias. In addition, a number decline of the Moguls and the coming of the
of revolts against imperial authority broke British. However, many prominent Indians
out in provinces throughout the empire. established trading ties with foreigners.
Rebellious groups threatened the power of
the emperor.
After Aurangzeb’s death in 1707, there
Mogul Culture
were many contenders for the throne. Their The Moguls brought together Persian and
reigns were short-lived. India was increas- Indian influences in a new and beautiful
ingly divided and vulnerable to attack from architectural style. This style is best symbol-
abroad. In 1739, Delhi was sacked by the ized by the Taj Mahal, which Shāh Jahān
Persians, who left it in ashes. built in Agra in the mid-seventeenth cen-
tury. The project lasted more than twenty
years. To finance it, the government raised
✓Reading Check Explaining How did Akbar’s land taxes, driving many Indian peasants
religious policy affect his government? into complete poverty.

CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 501


THE BRITISH GAIN CONTROL
OF INDIA
The British East India Company faced challenges in its efforts to gain control of
Indian trade. By the mid-1700s, the power of the French East India Company rivaled
that of the British. In southern India, the French and British fought a series of wars in
Delhi
the region near Chennai (Madras). In 1751, Sir Robert Clive won an important victory BENGAL
there for the British East India Company against the French and their Indian allies. Plassey 1757
In the north, Clive defeated a Mogul-led army at the Battle of Plassey near Fort Fort William (Kolkata)
Arabian Bay of
William (Kolkata) in Bengal in 1757. The balance of power shifted to the British. INDIA Bengal
Sea
After defeating the French and the Moguls, the British became the dominant power Madras
in India until after World War II. For much of that time, the British East India Company
had all the sovereign powers of a government in ruling much of India.

Robert Clive and Mir Jaffier after the Battle


of Plassey, 1757 by Francis Hayman depicts a
meeting of Clive and a defecting Indian
leader, Mir Jaffier, after the battle.

In the mid-1700s, the British East


India Company began to
consolidate its control of India’s
commerce.
1. Summarizing How did the
actions of Robert Clive affect
English trade with India?
2. Predicting What problems
do you foresee in allowing a
private trading company to
assume the powers of a
government?

The Taj Mahal is widely considered to be Persian masters to create the Mogul school
the most beautiful building in India, if not of painting. The “Akbar style” combined
in the entire world. The building seems to Persian with Indian motifs. It included
have monumental size, nearly blinding the portrayal of humans in action, for
brilliance, and delicate lightness. example—a characteristic not usually seen
Another major artistic achievement of in Persian art. Akbar also encouraged his
the Mogul period was in painting. Like artists to imitate European art forms,
architecture, painting in Mogul India including the use of perspective and life-
resulted from the blending of two cultures: like portraits.
Persian and Indian. Akbar established a
state workshop for artists, mostly Hindus, ✓Reading Check Describing What was
who worked under the guidance of significant about the “Akbar style” of art?

502 SECTION 3 The Grandeur of the Moguls


National Portrait Gallery, London
Europeans Come to India
Foreigners seeking trade opportunities in India hastened
the decline of the Mogul Empire.
HISTORY & YOU What would you do if someone set up a concession Vocabulary
stand opposite the one you have operated successfully for years? Learn 1. Explain the significance of: Bābur, Khyber
how the British and French competed for trade in India. Pass, Delhi, Akbar, intelligent, zamindars,
Shāh Jahān, Deccan Plateau, Aurangzeb,
principle, suttee, Taj Mahal, Agra, Kolkata,
The arrival of the British hastened the decline of the Chennai.
Mogul Empire. By 1650, British trading forts had been
established at Surat, Fort William (which was renamed Main Ideas
Calcutta and is now the city of Kolkata), and Madras 2. List and explain the events that led to the
(Chennai). British ships carried Indian-made cotton goods decline of the Mogul Empire using a chart
to the East Indies, where they were traded for spices. like the one below.
British success in India attracted rivals, especially the
French. The French established their own forts. For a brief
period, the French went on the offensive, even capturing
the British fort at Chennai.
The British were saved by the military genius of Sir
Robert Clive, an aggressive British empire builder. Clive
served as the chief representative in India of the East India
Company, a private company that acted on behalf of the
3. Explain why the British and French built
British Crown. Fighting any force that threatened the
forts in India.
Company’s power in India, Clive ultimately restricted the
French to the fort at Pondicherry and a few small territo- 4. Describe the Taj Mahal. Who built it? Why
is it considered the most beautiful building
ries on the southeastern coast.
in India?
While fighting the French, Clive was also consolidating
British control in Bengal. The Indian ruler of Bengal had
attacked Fort William in 1756. He had imprisoned the Brit- Critical Thinking
ish garrison in the “Black Hole of Calcutta,” an under- 5. The BIG Idea Analyzing Analyze the
impact of the Moguls on the Hindu and
ground prison. Due to the intense heat in the crowded
Muslim peoples of the Indian subcontinent.
space, only 23 people (out of 146) survived.
In 1757, Clive led a small British force of about three 6. Evaluating Evaluate how Akbar’s reign
thousand to victory over a Mogul-led army more than ten reflected his humane character.
times its size in the Battle of Plassey in Bengal. As part of 7. Analyzing Visuals Examine the illustration
the spoils of victory, the failing Mogul court gave the East from Akbarnama (History of Akbar) on page
India Company the power to collect taxes from lands in 500. What details indicate that the officials
the area around Calcutta. are paying homage to Akbar?
Britain’s rise to power in India, however, was not a story
of constant success. Many East India Company officials Writing About History
combined arrogance with incompetence. They offended 8. Descriptive Writing When the British
both their Indian allies and the local population, who were established trading posts in India, their
taxed heavily to meet the Company’s growing expenses. influence spread throughout the country.
Present a speech describing how India
In the late eighteenth century, the East India Company
would have developed if the British had not
moved inland from the great coastal cities. British expan-
colonized the country.
sion brought great riches to individual British merchants
and to British officials who found they could obtain money
from local rulers by selling trade privileges. The British
were in India to stay. (ISTORY /.,).%
For help with the concepts in this section of Glencoe World
✓Reading Check Examining How did Robert Clive save the History, go to glencoe.com and click Study Central.
British in India?

503
Visual Summary
You can study anywhere, anytime by downloading quizzes
and flash cards to your PDA from glencoe.com.

THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE The Turkish Sultan Reviewing His Janissaries


History & Culture
• Ottomans conquered the Byzantine Empire and expanded into The sultan, the supreme
government authority, built a
the Balkans. strong military of janissaries.
• Most Ottomans were Sunni Muslims and were tolerant of
other religions.
• Ottoman sultans were enthusiastic patrons of the arts.
• After reaching its peak under Süleyman I, the Ottoman Empire
began to decline.

Demand for Persian Carpets


Stimulated Manufacturing

THE S·AFAVIDS History & Culture


• To unify the S·afavid Empire, Shah Esmaˉ‘ıˉl forced Sunni
Muslims to convert to the Shia faith.
• Under Shah ‘Abbaˉs, the S·afavids reached the high point of
their glory.
• The shahs played an active role in government, trade, and
manufacturing activities.
• The empire’s decline began after the death of Shah ‘Abbaˉs.

Carpets made by the


Safavids often incorporated
animal motifs.
Taj Mahal

THE MOGULS History & Culture


• The Moguls united India under a single government
with a common culture.
• The Mogul ruler Akbar was Muslim, but he exercised
tolerance toward Hindu practices.
• Persian and Indian cultures blended to create beautiful
paintings and architecture.
• British forces defeated the Moguls at the Battle of
Plassey. The British eventually ruled most of India.

The Taj Mahal is the most


famous example of Mogul
504 CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires architecture.
(t) Stapleton Collection, UK/Bridgeman Art Library, (c) The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Art Resource, NY, (b) David Ball/Spectrum Colour Library/Imagestate
Assessment
STANDARDIZED TEST PRACTICE
TEST-TAKING TIP
Do not pick an answer just because it sounds good. Sometimes a choice is deliberately meant to sound correct but is
not. Read all the answer choices carefully before you select the best one, and avoid making hasty decisions.

Reviewing Vocabulary Reviewing Main Ideas


Directions: Choose the word or words that best complete the Directions: Choose the best answers to the following questions.
sentence.
Section 1 (pp. 484–489)
1. The Hindu custom of cremating a widow on her husband’s 5. Who were the janissaries?
funeral pyre is known as .
A Pashas
A ulema
B Bureaucrats
B suttee
C Religious leaders
C harem
D An elite guard
D sultan

6. The Ottomans ended the Byzantine Empire by laying siege to


2. The was the sultan’s chief minister. which city?
A grand vizier A Constantinople
B marshal B Lepanto
C shah C Mohács
D pasha D Topkapi

3. What is another word for lawlessness and disorder? 7. The success of which type of empire was largely based on its
A Rebellion mastery of firearms?
B Orthodoxy A Bourgeois
C Revolt B Gunpowder
D Anarchy C Blackfriar
D Pastoral
4. The private domain of a sultan was called the .
A sanctuary 8. Under which ruler did the Ottoman Empire reach its high
B mosque point?
C harem A Selim I
D zamindar B Selim II
C Mehmed II
D Süleyman I

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CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 505


Section 2 (pp. 492–495) Critical Thinking
9. What did the S·afavids use as a unifying force? Directions: Choose the best answers to the following questions.
A Shia faith
14. How was the Ottoman Empire characterized in the first half
B Sunni faith of the seventeenth century?
C Grand vizier A The empire was preoccupied with internal problems.
D Persians B The bureaucracy slowed down the government.
C The queen mother was waiting to assume power.
10. Shāh ‘Abbās moved the capital city of the S·afavids from D The empire was preoccupied with the arts.
Tabrıˉz to which city?
A Azerbaijan Base your answer to questions 15 and 16 on the map below and on
your knowledge of world history.
B İstanbul
C Eşfahaˉn The British in India
D Riza-i-Abbasi 70°E 80°E 90°E

11. S·afavid society was a combination of Turkish and what kind 0 400 kilometers

of elements? 0 400 miles


Two-Point Equidistant projection
A Mogul 30°N

B Persian
Delhi
C Ottoman
BENGAL
D French INDIA
Plassey
Arabian 1757
Sea Fort William
Section 3 (pp. 498–503) Surat
20°N
12. What was the “Black Hole of Calcutta”? Bay of
Bengal
A An oil spill
B A great whirlpool
INDIAN OCEAN
C Ornamental art Madras (Chennai)
D An underground prison Pondicherry
10°N 1761
Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
13. Which building is widely considered the most beautiful in British trading fort
India, if not in the entire world? French trading fort N

A Akbar Castle British victory over French W E

B Chennai Station British victory over Moguls S

C Taj Mahal Extent of Mogul Empire, 1700



D Bengal Mahal
15. At what location did the British defeat the French?
A Fort William
B Plassey
C Pondicherry
D Sri Lanka
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506 CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires


Assessment
16. In what area of India did the British fight a Mogul army in Document-Based Questions
1757 for control of Indian trade?
Directions: Analyze the document and answer the short-answer ques-
A Sri Lanka tions that follow the document.
B Bengal
Much of what is known about the life of ordinary Indians comes
C Delhi
from the observations of foreign visitors. Following is an excerpt
D Arabian Sea from one such description.

17. Which of the following took place in the S·afavid Empire


after the death of Shāh ‘Abbās? “Their houses are built of mud with thatched roofs.
Furniture there is little or none except some earthenware
A Women no longer wore the veil.
pots to hold water and for cooking and two beds, one for
B Women were forced from seclusion. the man, the other for his wife; their bed cloths are scanty,
C The power of religious elements declined. merely a sheet or perhaps two, serving as under- and over-
sheet. This is sufficient for the hot weather, but the bitter
D Religious orthodoxy increased.
cold nights are miserable indeed, and they try to keep warm
over little cow-dung fires.”
Analyze the chart and answer the question that follows. Base your
answer on the chart and on your knowledge of world history.

Over a span of 300 years, the Ottomans conquered the Byzantine 19. What type of furnishings did this Indian family have?
Empire and expanded into western Asia, Africa, and Europe to 20. From reading this passage, what can you conclude about
create the Ottoman Empire. The chart shows Ottoman expansion the lives of Indian people during the Mogul Empire?
over a 115-year period.

Expansion of the Ottoman Empire, Extended Response


1451–1566 21. Compare and contrast the rule of Akbar with Louis XIV of
Sultan Dates Conquered Territory France (see Chapter 14).

Mehmed II 1451–1481 Anatolian Peninsula


Balkans
Constantinople
Selim I 1512–1520 Arabia
Egypt
Mesopotamia
Süleyman I 1520–1566 Hungary
Libya

18. Name the ruler and the area conquered that ensured
Ottoman control of the Bosporus.
A Selim I, Mesopotamia
B Mehmed II, Constantinople
C Süleyman I, Libya (ISTORY /.,).%
D Selim I, Arabia For additional test practice, use Self-Check Quizzes—
Chapter 15 at glencoe.com.

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CHAPTER 15 The Muslim Empires 507

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