Islamic and Asian Empires #1

Question 1

Monotheism

Answer 1

The belief that there is only one God

Question 2

Allah

Answer 2

Muslims believe that if you repeat “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet” multiple times a day, you become a Muslim. This reminds people that Muhammad is a prophet, not a figure to worship.

Question 3

Koran

Answer 3

The Islamic holy book, that is believed to be God’s revelations from the mouth of Muhammad.

Question 4

Ramadan

Answer 4

During the entire month of Ramadan (the ninth month according to the Islamic calendar - lasts either 29 or 30 days) Muslims have to fast and refrain from drinking from sunrise to sundown. They also can’t smoke or curse, or do anything considered sinful.

Question 5

Sunni

Answer 5

Most Muslims were Sunni Muslims (including the Ottoman Empire). They believe that the Caliph does have to be a descendant of Muhammad’s family.

Question 6

Mehmet II

Answer 6

Under the leadership of Mehmet II, the Ottomans ended the Byzantine Empire.

Question 7

Suleiman

Answer 7

Longest reigning Ottoman emperor. He ruled over 25 million people during his reign. 1520 - 1566. The Suleymaniye Mosque was created for him.

Question 8

Topkapi Palace

Answer 8

Was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire for over 400 years. It began soon after Constantinople was conquered.

Question 9

Suleymaniye Mosque

Answer 9

Created by Sinan (the greatest Ottoman architect) for Suleiman. It was one of Sinan’s 81 mosques.

Question 10

Pashas

Answer 10

The Pashas would raise the military for the sultan and would grant lands in exchange for tax revenue.

Question 11

Grand Vizier

Answer 11

Ran the Imperial Council for the Sultan.

Question 12

Sultans

Answer 12

Sultans were caliphs, so they had both political and religious authority.

Question 13

Ulema

Answer 13

Carried out religious duties for the sultan (Non-muslims were generally permitted to practice as long as they paid additional taxes).

Question 14

Shia

Answer 14

The other Muslim group, which the Safavid Empire was a part of. They believed that the Caliph should be descendants of Ali to obtain more religious power.

Question 15

Shah

Answer 15

After Esmail overthrew a lot of Iran and Iraq he declared himself the shah, or king.

Question 16

Shah Esmail

Answer 16

Founder of the Safavid Empire. He was the descendant of a leader of multiple Turkish ethnic groups, and when Esmail was in his teens he used the forces he had gained because of his father to overthrow a lot of land in Iran and Iraq. He then dubbed himself the “shah.” He sent Shia preachers to the Ottoman Empire to try and convert Sunni Muslims to the Shia faith, and when the Ottoman Emperor ordered him to stop, he refused. After Esmail conquered Baghdad, he ordered for the mass murder of Sunni Muslims.

Question 17

Persian

Answer 17

The Safavid Empire controlled a lot of Persia and struggled with communicating with the citizens, especially if they only spoke Persian. The Shia faith was used to unite the two cultures.

Question 18

Religious Orthodoxy

Answer 18

The pressure to conform to traditional religious beliefs. Ex: the Safavid women had a lot of freedom when the Empire started out, but were soon forced into isolation and required to wear a veil.

Question 19

Hagia Sophia

Answer 19

The largest Byzantine Church in Constantinople. The Ottomans turned this Church into a mosque after conquering Constantinople.

Question 20

Sultan’s Lodge

Answer 20

A hidden section of the Hagia Sophia that was included so the Sultan could join religious ceremonies without the people seeing him.

Question 21

How does the Topkapi Palace reflect Islamic art and power?

Answer 21

Center of the Sultan’s power.

Question 22

How does the Suleymaniye Mosque reflect Islamic art and power?

Answer 22

Sourced materials from other empires (marble from Egypt, Baalbek from Lebanon). Designed to one-up the Hagia Sophia, and to be a reflection of Suleiman’s power. Used windows from all angles, and used pencil minarets to ensure you could see it from afar. The mihrab points to Mecca, showing its importance as a holy site (the Turks controlled Mecca during this time period). Calligraphy was in Arabic, the language they believed God spoke to the prophet, not in Turkish, the Ottoman’s actual language.

Question 23

Selim

Answer 23

During 1514 through 1517, Selim gained control of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Arabia - the centers of Islam. Now he was in control of many Muslim holy cities - Mecca, Jerusalem, and Makkah and he declared himself the new caliph.

Question 24

Dome

Answer 24

Gold Mosaic

Question 25

Muqarnas

Answer 25

Honeycomb denting present in Ottoman architecture.

Question 26

Mihrab

Answer 26

A hole in the mosque’s wall closest to Mecca. Everyone faces here to pray.

Question 27

Mecca

Answer 27

Holy city, where each Muslim should make a pilgrimage to once in their lifetime. The Turks controlled Mecca during their rule.

Question 28

Osaka

Answer 28

Hideyoshi’s capital, and trade and industry flourished here during the Tokugawa Era.