Changes

In 1453 Ottoman sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople, and tore the cross off the top of the Hagia Sophia, declaring the Christian church to be a mosque.  Selim the Grim and Suleiman I followed, expanding the Ottoman territories into an empire comprising Constantinople (now Istanbul), Syria, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Greece and even parts of Hungary and Austria.  The height of the Ottoman empire existed during the reign of Suleiman I, which lasted from A.D. 1520 to 1566.  Suleiman was known by Europeans as “the Magnificent” because of the splendor of his reign, but he had the greatest historical influence as a provider of laws and legal standards.  His picture can be found in the United States Supreme Court alongside those of Moses, Thomas Jefferson and Solon.  Called “people of the book,” Christians and Jews were allowed to practice their religions under Ottoman rule.

In 1453 Ottoman sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople, and tore the cross off the top of the Hagia Sophia, declaring the Christian church to be a mosque.  Selim the Grim and Suleiman I followed, expanding the Ottoman territories into an empire comprising Constantinople (now Istanbul), Syria, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Greece and even parts of Hungary and Austria.  The height of the Ottoman empire existed during the reign of Suleiman I, which lasted from A.D. 1520 to 1566.  Suleiman was known by Europeans as “the Magnificent” because of the splendor of his reign, but he had the greatest historical influence as a provider of laws and legal standards.  His picture can be found in the United States Supreme Court alongside those of Moses, Thomas Jefferson and Solon.  Called “people of the book,” Christians and Jews were allowed to practice their religions under Ottoman rule.

In addition to the Ottoman empire were the Islamic empires of Safavid and Mughal.  The Safavid dynasty, located in north-west Persia, was founded by a 14-year old “shah” (king) named Ismail who conquered the Seljuk Turks in North India.  The Shi’ite Safavids fought with the Sunni Ottomans for 200 years.  Safavid Shah Abbas the Great saw the peak of the Safavid Empire during his reign from 1588-1629, and established trade with Europe.

There were other Islamic empires in addition to the Ottoman empire: the Islamic empires of Safavid and Mughal.  The Safavid dynasty, located in northwest Persia, was founded by a 14-year old “shah” (king) named Ismail (another spelling of the biblical name “Ishmael”) who conquered the Seljuk Turks in North India.  The Shi’ite Safavids fought with the Sunni Ottomans for 200 years.  Safavid Shah Abbas the Great saw the peak of the Safavid Empire during his reign from 1588-1629, and established trade with Europe.

The beginnings of the Mughal Empire, located in India, were established by Babur around 1525 AD.  Under the reign of Babur’s grandson Akbar (1556-1605), the Mughal Empire experienced its “Golden Age,” during which taxes were decreased.  The languages spoken were Persian, Hindi (still spoken in India today), and Urdu (a new language combining Persian, Hindi, and Arabic characters; present-day Pakistan’s official language).  Other religions were tolerated under Akbar’s rule, but not under Aurangzeb’s notoriously intolerant rule (from 1659-1707), during which Hindus were taxes and their temples torn down, causing discord in the Mughal Empire, including an uprising of the previously non-violent Hindi-Muslim Sikhs.   

The beginnings of the Mughal Empire, located in India, were established by Babur around 1525 AD.  Under the reign of Babur’s grandson Akbar (1556-1605), the Mughal Empire experienced its “Golden Age,” during which taxes were decreased.  The languages spoken were Persian, Hindi (still spoken in India today), and Urdu (a new language combining Persian, Hindi, and Arabic characters, and today it is Pakistan’s official language).  Other religions were tolerated under Akbar’s rule, but not under Aurangzeb’s notoriously intolerant rule (from 1659-1707), during which Hindus were taxed and their temples torn down.  This caused discord in the Mughal Empire, and resulted in an uprising of the previously non-violent Hindi-Muslim Sikhs.   

Contributions of these Islamic empires include the stunningly beautiful Taj Mahal, an enormous tomb built of pure white marble beginning in 1631 by Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan for his beloved wife.  Building of the Taj Mahal in India lasted 18 years, and 20,000 workers were used.  Jahan was so overwhelmed with its beauty, and so cruel to its workers, that he had their hands cut off so they would never build another one like it!  Jahan also constructed the “Red Fort,” a red-sandstone palace and the “Peacock Throne,” encrusted with thousands of gems.  Many beautiful mosques and palaces were built in Constantinople under Ottoman rule, many designed by artist and architect Pasha Sinan.  The most famous Ottoman form of art was the blue-and-white pottery of Iznik.

Contributions of these Islamic empires include the stunningly beautiful Taj Mahal, an enormous tomb built of pure white marble beginning in 1631 by Akbar’s grandson Shah Jahan for his beloved wife.  The construction of the Taj Mahal in India took 18 years, and 20,000 workers were used.  Jahan was so overwhelmed with its beauty, and so cruel to its workers, that he had their hands cut off so they would never build another one like it!  Jahan also constructed the “Red Fort,” a red-sandstone palace and the “Peacock Throne,” encrusted with thousands of gems.  Many beautiful mosques and palaces were built in Constantinople under Ottoman rule, many designed by artist and architect Pasha Sinan.  The most famous Ottoman form of art was the blue-and-white pottery of Iznik.

The Islamic empires participated in international trade (especially the Ottomans and Safavids), but not to the extent that the Europeans were trading.  Technological advancements flourishing in Europe (such as the printing press) were not received well in dar-al Islam (lands under Islamic control).  These factors, combined with prolonged periods of warfare eventually led to the downfall of the Islamic empires.

The Islamic empires participated in international trade (especially the Ottomans and Safavids), but did not participate in trade as much as the Europeans did.  The Islamic empires also resisted technological advances that flourished in Europe, such as the printing press.  In dar-al Islam (lands under Islamic control), western technology was disfavored.  These factors, combined with prolonged periods of warfare, eventually led to the downfall of the Islamic empires.

==Africa==

==Africa==