Islamic Empires: Seljuk and Delhi Sultanate

Islam Beyond the Caliphates

• The Seljuk Empire, a Turko-Persian Sunni Muslim empire, was founded in 1037.
• Seljuks expanded into Persia, then conquered much of Anatolia from the Byzantine Empire in 1071 (Battle of Manzikert).
• This conquest contributed to the First Crusade (1095-1099).
• The Seljuk Empire declined between 1150-1250 and was invaded by the Mongols around 1260.
• Anatolia was divided into Emirates, eventually with the Ottomans conquering the remaining regions.

The Delhi Sultanate

• The Delhi Sultanate, an Islamic empire, ruled most of the Indian subcontinent from 1206-1526 CE.
• The empire conquered regions previously controlled by Turko-Iranian Mamluks.
• The Delhi Sultanate played a significant role in developing the culture and identity of the Indian region.
• The Sultanate successfully repelled the Mongol invasion in the Chagatai Khanate, preventing widespread destruction and death.
• It was a large, non-Arab Muslim state headed by a sultan.
• Sultans held political authority and enforced Sharia law but did not exercise religious/theological authority like caliphs.
• The Delhi Sultanate fostered economic growth, although tax collection also slowed growth later in its rule.

Impact of the Delhi Sultanate

• The Delhi Sultanate's role in history is often overlooked.
• It both repelled Mongol invasion and provided a safe haven for people fleeing Mongol invasions, particularly in the 13th and 14th centuries.
• It introduced Islam to the region, influencing existing cultures, and creating new mixtures of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
• Its diverse ethnic mix led to the shaping of modern states like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.
• The sultanate spurred technological advancements, including increased iron and steel production, and the use of Chinese paper technology.
• The Delhi Sultanate was later replaced by the Mughal Empire.

Diasporic Communities

• Muslim merchants were a dominant force in the Indian ocean trade from the 8th to 16th centuries.
• They settled in coastal trading towns, establishing communities which spread Islam throughout the Indian Ocean region.
• Mosques were established and conversions to Islam expanded in areas not under uniform religious control.
• Besides Chinese communities, Jewish communities also participated in trade networks.

Trans-Saharan Trade Network

• The Trans-Saharan Trade Network facilitated trade across the Sahara Desert involving several African kingdoms.
• Key trading cities (like Timbuktu, Ghana, Songhai) were active parts of these networks.

Islam in West Africa

• Arab traders established Muslim presence in West Africa after 1000 CE, using camel caravans.
• African leaders adopted elements of Arab culture and administration while maintaining their independent identities.
• Important figures like Mansa Musa (of Mali), who undertook a pilgrimage to Mecca, introduced Islam to the region through trade and his wealth.
• Despite adopting Islamic practices, African communities did not universally enforce the legal aspects (Sharia Law) of Islam on the whole population in this period.

The Golden Age of Islam

• The Abbasid period is often considered the Golden Age of Islamic culture and academic achievements.
• Islamic mathematicians, including Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, advanced fields like algebra and trigonometry.
• The House of Wisdom in Baghdad served as a central repository of knowledge.
• Advancement in medicine occurred, with the development of methods for diagnosing and treating diseases.
• Islamic contributions to literature (by women like 'A'ishah al-Ba'uniyyah), and technology (like paper and printing) also occurred in this era.