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# Muslim Empires The document discusses the rise and spread of Muslim empires, focusing on the Ottomans. **Key Points:** * **Intense Competition:** European desire for trade with Africa and Asia spurred naval expansion. * **Muslim Empires:** The 14th century saw powerful states emerge in territo...

# Muslim Empires The document discusses the rise and spread of Muslim empires, focusing on the Ottomans. **Key Points:** * **Intense Competition:** European desire for trade with Africa and Asia spurred naval expansion. * **Muslim Empires:** The 14th century saw powerful states emerge in territories controlled by the Mongol Empire. Many of these states adopted Islam. By the 1500s, the Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals formed dominant powers. * **Ottomans (1299-1922):** The Ottomans, named after Osman I (r. 1299-1326), a Turkic leader, achieved significant victories over other warlords and the declining Byzantine Empire. By 1352, they held significant power in the Balkans. In 1453, under Sultan Mehmed II (r. 1451-1481), they conquered Constantinople, renaming it Istanbul, a pivotal moment for the empire and the Islamic world. This resulted in a major change in power dynamics shifting the Islamic center of power. * **Sunni and Shia Islam:** A schism formed within Islam over the succession of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunnis and Shias differed about who should succeed him; Sunnis focusing on leadership skills, while Shias favored family lineage (related to Muhammad). This division affected Islamic political and religious life for centuries. Today, Sunnis account for most Muslims. * **Islamic Theology:** Egyptian Mamluks (enslaved soldiers) played a key role in spreading Islamic theology across North Africa in this period. Islamic architecture and the arts flourished under their patronage. * **Mughal and Safavid Empires:** In addition to the Ottomans, the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) in India and the Safavid Empire (1501-1736) emerged as important Muslim powers. **Image Description:** The image includes a map of Europe in 1500, a map of the expanding Ottoman Empire in 1450, and a portrait of Sultan Osman I (or Uthman). The text provides historical context on various aspects of the period from a textbook or reference material perspective.