+

Turkish Empires Rise in Anatolia

279-281 (11:3)

+Notes Guide 1. Background- Abbasids

2. Turks in Central Asia

3. Slaves Master

4. SELJUKS

5. Turks Get Persian Support

6. Persian Support

7. Seljuks Confront 2 Enemies Enemy 1: Crusades Enemy 2: Mongols (Genghis Khan)

+Turkish Empire

Main Idea: Turkish people converted to Islam and founded new empires that would renew Muslim civilization

Why it matters? In the 20th Century, the collapse of the Turkish empire left ethnic and religious hostilities that still affect the world

+Setting the Stage Location: East of Constantinople, south of Russia

Abbasids (Muslim empire) had ruled since 8th century

By 10th century, their empire was opened to be conquered

+Turks March from Central AsiaDurko= most likely the Turks,

Chinese records speak of them as people living on their western borders

For centuries they were nomads, herded goats and sheep, lived in tents, use 2 humped camels to carry goods

Muslims met them as raiders and traders along their northeastern frontiers

10 Century- Turks converted to Islam, then migrated into the Abbasid Empire

+Question: Why was it common for people to convert to Islam when they were conquered?

A. There was tax cuts for converts

B. There was protection that came with belonging to a larger empire

C. Trade was easier when you were part of the empire.

D. Islam was an increasing popular religion at this time

E. All of the above

+From Slaves to Masters

When Abbasids saw the

military skills of the Turks, they began buying Turkish children to raise as slaves, train as soldiers and then employ as bodyguards

Mamelukes= Turkish military slaves, became a powerful force in the Abbasid Empire

Abbasid Empire begins to crumble to outsiders Persian armies moved in

Baghdad and put an end to the caliph’s political power

+Rise of the Seljuks At this time of weakness, Turks

migrated into the Abbasid Empire (around 970 CE)

Seljuks= one of the first Turkish groups to migrate, converted to Sunni branch of Islam Despite conversion, still continued

to fight other Muslims attacked and captured Baghdad

from the Persians marched on Byzantine Empire and

crushed them Within 10 years, Seljuks occupied

most of Anatolia (Turkey) came close to Constantinople (New

Rome) than any Arab or Persian

+Turks Secure Persian Support

Seljuk rulers allowed the support of their newly conquered Persian (very wise move)

Because of this,

Persians were loyal supporters of the Seljuks

Elected Persians as government officials

Vizier= prime minister (most famous= Malik Shah)

+Persian Support most nomadic Seljuks were illiterate

and were unfamiliar with Muslim traditions and customs that they had adopted

Looked to the Persians for language, culture, and religious guidance

Turks adopted Persian as the language of culture

Shahs= Persian word for king

Supported Persian artists and architects

Because of the Turk’s preferences for Persian culture and language, Arabic was almost completely lost

+Seljuks Confront Crusaders and Mongols

When Malik Shah died, their were no capable shahs to replace him Suljuk Empire disintegrated into a loose collection of minor kingdoms

At this point, the West (Europe) launched a series of military campaigns called the

Crusades

+Seljuks and the CrusadersFirst Crusade 1095 CE, Pope

Urban II called for Christians to drive the Turks out of Anatolia and recover Jerusalem

1099 CE- Crusaders captured Jerusalem and massacred its Jewish and Muslim inhabitants

Seljuk Empire gathered it’s strength under captain Saladin, and recovered Jerusalem in 1187 CE

Truce sign= signed by Saladin and King of England (King Richard I), agreement gave Jerusalem to the Muslims, but granted Western pilgrims access to Christian holy places

Other Crusades followed, but they were each weaker than the one before

+Seljuk Face the Mongols

Mongol Army led by Genghis Khan

Had already conquered China

Leveled any cities in their way, slaughtering whole populations

Genghis’ grandson, Hulagu, took Baghdad

Because of superstitions of spilling holy blood, Hulagu had the last Abbasid caliph killed by wrapping him in a carpet and trampled to death by horses