Name
Class
Date
Chapter 4 The Spread of Islam
Section 2
HSS 7.2
MAIN IDEAS
1. The Ottoman Empire covered a large area
in eastern Europe.
2. The Safavid Empire blended Persian
cultural traditions with Shia Islam.
3. The Mughal Empire in India left an
impressive cultural heritage.
Students analyze the
geographic, political,
economic, religious, and
social structures of the
civilizations of Islam in the
Middle Ages.
Key Terms and People
Janissaries enslaved youths converted to Islam and trained as soldiers
Mehmed II Ottoman ruler who defeated the Byzantine Empire
sultan an Ottoman ruler
Suleyman I Ottoman ruler who led the empire to its heights
harem a separate area of a household where women lived away from men
Shia Muslims who believed only members of Muhammad’s family could be caliphs
Sunni Muslims who believed caliphs did not have to be related to Muhammad
Section Summary
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Built on conquest, the Ottoman Empire was a
powerful political and cultural force for centuries. It
grew from a small kingdom into a large empire.
In the mid-1200s, Muslim Turkish warriors began
to take land from the Christian Byzantine Empire.
The Ottomans eventually controlled eastern Europe,
North Africa, and northern Arabia. Janissaries,
male youths taken from conquered towns and
converted to Islam, fought fiercely in these
conquests. The Byzantine Empire came to an
end in 1453 when Ottomans led by Mehmed II
captured Constantinople. A later sultan continued
Mehmed’s conquests. The Ottoman Empire reached
its height under Suleyman I (soo-lay-MAHN), “the
Magnificent.” By 1566 the Ottomans took control of
the eastern Mediterranean and parts of Europe.
Underline the phrase that tells
where the Ottomans found fierce
soldiers to fight in their armies.
What date signifies the final end
of the Byzantine Empire?
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Interactive Reader and Study Guide
Name
Class
Date
Section 2, continued
Ottoman society was divided into two classes.
Judges and others who advised the sultan on legal
and military matters were part of the ruling class.
The ruling class had to be loyal to the sultan,
practice Islam, and understand Ottoman customs.
The lower classes included many Christians and
Jews from lands the Ottomans had conquered.
Ottoman society limited the freedom of women,
particularly in the ruling classes. Women had to live
apart from men in an area called a harem.
THE SAFAVID EMPIRE
Meanwhile, a group of Persian Muslims known
as the Safavids (sah-FAH-vuhds) gained power
in the east. Before long, the Safavids came into
conflict with the Ottomans and other Muslims. The
conflict stemmed from an old disagreement about
who should be caliph. In the mid-600s, Islam had
split into two groups—the Sunni and the Shia. The
Ottomans were Sunni and the Safavids were Shia.
The Safavid Empire conquered Persia in 1501.
Under the rule of ‘Abbas, the Safavid Empire
reached its height.
THE MUGHAL EMPIRE
East of the Safavid Empire, in India, lay the Mughal
(MOO-guhl) Empire. Like the Ottomans, the
Mughals united many diverse peoples. They left a
cultural heritage known for poetry and architecture.
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built the famous Taj
Mahal. Under the leader Akbar, the Mughal Empire
was known for its religious tolerance. But more
restrictive policies after his death led to revolt and
ultimately the end of the empire.
What was the basis for the split
between the Sunnis and the Shias?
What is the most famous
architectural achievement of the
Mughal Empire?
CHALLENGE ACTIVITY
Critical Thinking: Drawing Inferences Pretend that you are a visitor,
to the Ottoman Empire. Write several journal entries about what you
might see there and your impressions of Ottoman society. HSS Analysis
Skills CR 2, HI 1
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Chapter 4
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