21: The Muslim Empires

Question 0

Mughal Empire

Answer 0

Established by Babur in India in 1526; the name is taken from the supposed Mongol descent of Babur, but there is little indication of any Mongol influence in the dynasty; became weak after rule of Aurangzeb in first decade of 18th century.

Question 1

Safavid dynasty

Answer 1

Originally a Turkic nomadic group; family originated in Sufi mystic group; espoused Shi’ism; conquered territory and established kingdom in region equivalent to modern Iran; lasted until 1722.

Question 2

Ottomans

Answer 2

Turkic people who advanced from strongholds in Asia Minor during 1350s; conquered large part of Balkans; unified under Mehmed I; captured Constantinople in 1453; established empire from Balkans that included most of Arab world.

Question 3

Mehmed II

Answer 3

Ottoman Sultan called the “Conquerer”; responsible for conquest of Constantinople in 1453; destroyed what remained of Byzantine Empire.

Question 4

Janissaries

Answer 4

Ottoman infantry divisions that dominated Ottoman armies; forcibly conscripted as boys in conquered areas of Balkans, legally slaves; translated military service into political influence, particularly after 15th century.

Question 5

vizier

Answer 5

Ottoman equivalent of the Abbasid wazir; head of the Ottoman bureaucracy; after 5th century often more powerful than sultan.

Question 6

Sail al-Din

Answer 6

Early 14th-century Sufi mystic; began campaign to purify Islam; first member of Safavid dynasty.

Question 7

Red Heads

Answer 7

Name given to Safavid followers because of their distinctive headgear.

Question 8

Isma’il

Answer 8

Sufi commander who conquered city of Tabriz in 1501; first Safavid to be proclaimed shah or emperor.

Question 9

Chaldiran

Answer 9

Site of battle between Safavids and Ottomans in 1514; Safavids severely defeated by Ottomans; checked western advance of Safavid Empire.

Question 10

Abbas the Great

Answer 10

Safavid ruler from 1587 to 1629; extended Safavid domain to greatest extent; created slave regiments based on captured Russians, who monopolized firearms within Safavid armies; incorporated Western military technology.

Question 11

imams

Answer 11

According to Shi’ism, rulers who could trace descent from the successors of Ali.

Question 12

mullas

Answer 12

Local mosque officials and prayer leaders within the Safavid Empire; agents of Safavid religious campaign to convert all of population to Shi;ism.

Question 13

Isfahan

Answer 13

Safavid capital under Abbas the Great; planned city laid out according to shah’s plan; example of Safavid architecture.

Question 14

Nadir Khan Afshar

Answer 14

Soldier-adventurer following fall of Safavid dynasty in 1722; proclaimed himself shah i 1736; established short-lived dynasty in reduced kingdom.

Question 15

Babur

Answer 15

Founder of Mughal dynasty in India; descended from Turkic warriors; first led invasion of India in 1526; died in 1530.

Question 16

Humayan

Answer 16

Son and successor of Babur; expelled from India in 1540, but restored Mughal rule by 1556; died shortly thereafter.

Question 17

Akbar

Answer 17

Son and successor of Humayan; oversaw building of military and administrative systems that became typical of Mughal rule in India; pursued policy of cooperation with Hindu princes; attempted to created new religion to bind Muslim and Hindu populations of India.

Question 18

Din-i-Ilahi

Answer 18

Religion initiated be Akbar in Mughal India; blended elements of the many faiths of the subcontinent; key to efforts to reconcile Hindus and Muslims in India, but failed.

Question 19

sati

Answer 19

Ritual in India of immolating surviving widows with the bodies of their deceased husbands.

Question 20

purdah

Answer 20

Seclusion in their homes imposed on women.

Question 21

Aurangzeb

Answer 21

Mughal emperor who succeeded Shah Jajan known for his religious zealotry.

Question 22

Taj Mahal

Answer 22

Most famous architectural achievement of Mughal India; originally built as a mausoleum for the wife of Shah Jahan, Mumtaz Mahal.

Question 23

Nur Jahan

Answer 23

Wife of Jahangir; amassed power in court and created faction of male relatives who dominated Mughal empire during later years of Jahangir’s reign.

Question 24

Mumtaz Mahal

Answer 24

Wife of Shah Jahan; took an active political role in Mughal court; entombed in Taj Mahal.

Question 25

Marattas

Answer 25

Western Indian peoples who rebelled against Mughal control early in 18th century.

Question 26

Sikhs

Answer 26

Sect in northwest India; early leaders tried to bridge differences between Hindu and Muslim, but Mughal persecution led to anti-Muslim feeling.