Seljuks History Quiz

Seljuks

• Originated in Central Asia, with an established base in Iran and Afghanistan.
• Capital city was Isfahan.
• Persian served as the language of culture.

Malik Shah

• Prominent Sultan who emerged after civil wars against family members.
• Led efforts to drive Byzantines from most of Anatolia after winning the Battle of Manzikert.
• Expanded influence into Syria, displacing the Fatimids.

Saladin

• Ruled following the decline of the Seljuks and brought Abbasid caliphate to Egypt.
• Major rivals included Sinan, leader of the Assassins, and Christian crusaders.

Military Structure

• Mamelukes, a class of Turkish military slaves.
• Ghazi, Islamic warriors formed military societies.
• Janissaries were elite soldiers in the Ottoman Empire.
• Devshirme was the policy of recruiting Christian children to be trained as Muslim soldiers.

Social Structure

• Four appointed social classes:
  • Men of the Pen
  • Men of the Sword
  • Men of Negotiation
  • Men of Husbandry

Safavid Empire

• Membership based on an Islamic religious brotherhood; prominent leader was Abbas the Great.
• Predominantly Shiite Muslims with a powerful military influenced by Ottoman janissaries.
• Centralized government structure.

Key Leaders

• Isma'il: Also known as leader of the redheads, conquered modern-day Iran and claimed the title of Shah.
• Shah Abbas: Known as "The Great," established a centralized government in the Safavid Empire.
• Osman: Founder of the Ottoman state, successful as a Ghazi in Anatolia.
• Murad II: Restored Ottoman military power and defeated the Venetians.

Notable Ottoman Conquests

• Mehmed II conquered Constantinople in 1453, transforming the Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
• Selim the Grim overthrew his father and defeated Safavid forces, earning the nickname "Yafuz" meaning "the inflexible."
• Suleiman the Magnificent, known for his wealth and legal reforms, provided support to the Janissaries.

Mughal Empire

• Mughals were invaders from Central Asia who entered India.
• Babur, at age 11, inherited a kingdom from Genghis Khan and Tamerlane.
• Akbar the Great, Babur's grandson, was noted for religious toleration and governmental centralization.
• Jahangir, his son, was an ineffective ruler, causing conflict with Sikhs.
• Nur Jahan, Jahangir's wife, was a Persian princess who opposed religious tolerance.
• Aurangzeb, son of Shah Jahan, was known for oppressive governance and resource depletion.
• Shah Jahan, also known as Prince Khurram, is remembered for constructing the Taj Mahal, referred to as "Dream in Marble."

Test your knowledge on the Seljuks, their capital, language, and historical significance. This quiz covers key aspects of Seljuk culture and their influence in Central Asia and beyond. Perfect for history enthusiasts!