I. Quick Primer on the Origins of the Islamic World to1400
 

A. Where is it and what do we mean by it?:

1. Where: Runs from NorthAfrica in horizontal band across Middle East to India and from there to Indonesia

2. What: Isn’t really an empire under one leader as much as it is a religious unity.  Situated between Asia, Europe, Africa, it was also a major crossroads of trade.

a. Islam

1. Muhammad, 570-632 C.E.
 
 
 

2. Unifying of Arabian Peninsula as political and cultural force
 
 
 

3. Qu’ran or Koran (standardized c. 651-652)
 
 
 
 

b. Creation of the Islamic World: Expands dramatically in Middle East as far west as Spain and as far east as Indonesia





c. Becomes Largely Turkic by 1500




 

II. The Early Modern Islamic World
 

A. Some Commonalities

1. Politics
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. Empires
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. Military
 
 
 
 
 
 

3. Society
 
 
 
 
 
 

4. Culture
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

B. The Three Major Empires

1. Ottomans:

a. Origins
 
 
 
 

b. Social and Military Organization:
 
 
 
 

c. Rise to Prominence:
 
 
 
 
 

2. Mughals:

a. Chronology and Origins
 
 

3. Safavids:

a. Chronology and Origins
 
 

Key Terms

Islamic World 
North Africa
Arabian peninsula
Tigris River-Euphrates River basin=Mesopotamia
Persia 
Central Asia
Southern Asia
Southeast Asia
Islam 
Muslim
Muhammad (c. 570-632)
Mecca
Arabs=Semitic people, originally pastoral nomads
Quran or Koran
hajj 
Abbasids
caliph
Ottoman Empire
Safavid Empire
Sharifian Empire
Mughal Empire 
Gunpowder Empires
Osman (1259-1326)
timar system
Suleiman the Magnificent (1494?-1566, r. 1520-1566)
Lodi dynasty
Babur (1486-1530, r. 1526-1530)
Hindu Rajputs
Afghan Lodi dynasty
Humayun  (1507-56, r. 1530-1556)
Akbar (1542-1605, r. 1556-1605)
Sufi Safavid order
Isma'il (1486-1524, r. 1501-1524)

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