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# Muslim Empires **Introduction** Intense competition on the continent inspired European monarchs to look outside their borders and the known world for ways to tap into the riches of Africa and Asia. The merging of new maritime technologies and a desire to find new trade routes led to a period of...

# Muslim Empires **Introduction** Intense competition on the continent inspired European monarchs to look outside their borders and the known world for ways to tap into the riches of Africa and Asia. The merging of new maritime technologies and a desire to find new trade routes led to a period of naval expansion, which would change the world—not only for Europeans, but also for the people they encountered. **The Ottoman Empire** In the 14th century, new powerful states emerged in territories formerly controlled by the Mongol Empire. Many of these states adopted Islam, a faith that originated in the early seventh century in Arabia. By the early to mid-1500s, the Ottomans (1299-1922) had already established themselves as a dominant power centered around Anatolia. Also, during this period, the Persian Safavid Empire (1501-1736) and the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) in India emerged. **The Rise of the Ottomans** To understand the rise of the Ottomans, we need to examine the westward expansion of Turkic tribes into Central Asia from the 600s to the 1100s. The rise of the Mongol Empire checked this expansion until the mid-14th century, when the Mongols, no longer the dominant force, retreated from Persia and Central Asia. The decline of the Mongols led to the emergence of new regimes, including the Ottomans, the Safavids, and the Mughals. The Ottomans derived their name from Osman (r. 1299-1326), a Turkic leader who achieved significant victories over other warlords and eventually the declining Byzantine Empire, becoming the chief power in the Balkans by 1352. In 1453, Sultan Mehmed II (r. 1451-1481) conquered the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. The city was renamed Istanbul and became the center of a sprawling and culturally influential Islamic empire. **Sunni and Shia Islam** Today, Sunnis account for 85–90% of all Muslims. The rest identify as Shias. Both Sunnis and Shias read the Quran, fast during Ramadan, make pilgrimages to Mecca, pray multiple times a day, and practice charity toward the poor. The schism between Sunnis and Shias began over the issue of who should succeed the Prophet Muhammad (570-632) as head of the Muslim faith. Sunnis asserted that the caliph, or leader, should be selected based on leadership skills. Shias argued that the caliph should be a member of the Prophet's family—initially supporting Ali's claim to the caliphate. Ali's claim was challenged by Muhammad's long-time companion, Abu Bakr (573-634), followed by Umar (583/584-644) and Uthman (573/576-656). Despite conflicts, these leadership changes shaped the political and religious landscape of the time. **Image Details** The document includes images of maps (Ottoman Empire c. 1450, and Europe in 1500). There is also a portrait of Sultan Gazi, "Father of Kings", Uthman (Osman) Han I.