By: Anthony Stephens-Kirkman, Jack Powers, Jaida Chapman and Paige

Wilson

Middle East: Rise of Muslim Empires

Rise of Islam & Islamic Empire

Covered all of the arabic peninsula Surrounded the Red Sea, the Prussian Gulf, and half

of the Mediterranean Sea.The peninsula was mostly desert and had very little

rainfall and no major rivers or lakes.The climate and location contributed to the spread of

Islam and trade routes.The position of the two major cities made trading a lot

more economically stable

Geography

TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS

632- Muhammad dies

750- Abu Al-Abbas founded Abbasid dynasty

850- Abbasids lost control 

570- Muhammad becomes messenger of God and spreads word of Islam

630- Muslims win battle against Meccans

Key Informati0n-Muslim scholars developed the sharia (A body of law

that includes interpretation of the Quran, examples of behavior, and Muslim traditions

- Family life

- Business practice

- Government

- Other aspects of individual and community life.The Sharia regulates moral lawSharia does not separate religion from criminal or

civil lawApplies religious principles to all legal situations Quran unifies Muslim beliefs

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Key Information-Social StructureMany arabs came to the KaabaMuhammad was born in ad 570Islam is one of the worlds major religionsReligionMuslims, jews and christians worship the same

god Muslims consider jews and christians to be

"people of the book"Quran teaches that islam is gods final and

complete revelation

SOCIAL STRUCTURE & RELIGION

Key Information-• Between 750 and 1350 B.C, merchants built a vast

trading network across Muslim lands • Camels were and still are known as the "Ships of the

Desert"• The Silk Road was used for trade with East Asia and

Europe (trade spread products, technology, knowledge, and culture)

• More people learned Arabic, which helped religion grow and thrive

• Opened branch banks in all major cities to cash checks (used today)

CULTRAL HERITAGE & ADVANCEMENTS

Key Information-• In 570 in the Arabian Peninsula Muhammad

believed that the angel Gabriel called him to be a messenger of God and spread Islam (with his teachings Islam became widely spread).

• Muslims studied the Quran and followed duties of their religion.

• The law system is Sharia, women gained rights, empire expanded.

• The law of system collapsed in 850

CULTURAL INTERACTIONS & CONFLICTS

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

GEOGRAPHYOttoman Empire grew to include many areas,

in it was now present day Europe.Surrounded the Red Sea and the

Mediterranean Sea.Covered all of Egypt and Anatolia and had

many mountain ranged mixed with desert.Was one of the largest expanding empires.

TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS

1463- Ottomans capture Constantinople 

1520- Sultan Suleiman began his successful rule

1529- empire extended to parts of Europe and Middle East 

1566- Suleiman dies

1700's- Ottoman Empire declines

Key information- Suleiman had absolute power, but had help of a grand vizier

and a council Ottoman society was divided in classes…

- Men of Sword (Mostly Muslim)

- Men of the Pen (Mostly Muslim)

- Men of negotiation

- Men of Husbandry New technology helped the Ottoman Empire finance its

expansion People were organized into millets, or religious communities

(Muslims, Greek Christians, Armenian Christians, and Jews) Each millet had its own leaders who responsible for education

and some legal matters

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Key Information-Social culture• Ottoman Empire was Suleiman• Empire was divided into classes• Ottomans ruled diverse peoples of many

religionsReligion• Ottomans levied a "tax" on Christian families • Non Muslim girls served as slaves

SOCIAL STRUCTURE & RELIGION

Key information-Cultural heritage• Arts blossomed under Suleiman • Royal architect Sinah designed hundreds of

mosques• Compared selimiye mosque to the greatest

church of the Byzantine empire• Influenced by Persian artistic styles Ottoman

painters produce detailed illuminated manuscripts

CULTRAL HERITAGE & ADVANCEMENTS

Key Information-• Law based on Sharid• Had diverse religions • Janizaries were elite army forces• Had strong art and agriculture• Society of classes…- Soldiers - Scientist, lawyers, judges and poets - Merchants- Farmers

CULTURAL INTERACTIONS & CONFLICTS

SAFAVID EMPIRE

GEOGRAPHYEmpire spread from Ottoman Empire to Afghanistan.Surrounded by Black and Caspian Seas, Persian Gulf,

and Sea of Ottoman.Persia was completely covered because of the spread

of the empire.Trading was easy because of the location of the two

cities.

TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS

1588-Shah Abbas created strong military and government and empire grew

1629- Shah Abbas dies

1722- rebels capture capital and force ruler out

Key Information- The Safavid king was called the Shah (the best known Shah

was Abbas the Great) Abbas centralized the government and created a powerful

military source To strengthen the economy Abbas reduced taxes on farmers

and herders, which encouraged the growth of the economy During his reign he built a new capital Isfahan, which

became the center of the international silk trade He built settlements for Christians outside the capital, where

they governed themselves

GEOGRPAHY & ECONOMY

Key Information-Social culture• Tolerated non Muslims • Built a settlement for the Christians• Glory faded after the death of Shaah Abbas• Shiite- a member of one of the two major

Muslim sects

SOCIAL STRUCTURE & RELIGION

Key Information-• In the late 1700s, a new dynasty, the Qajars,

won control of Iran.• They made Tehran their capital and ruled

until 1925• The Safavids left a lasting legacy• Persians had a strong sense of their own

identity

CULTURAL HERTITAGE &ADVANCMENTS

Key Information-• Industries and businesses were encouraged• Alliances and deals were made to keep peace

with other empires. • Successful central government and powerful

military• After Abba's death, the Sunni''s rebelled

against the shiiites.

CULTURAL INTERACTIONS & CONFLICTS