Me Civilizations

HERITAGE OF THE MIDDLE EAST

A Powerpoint Presentation By Andrew T. Atkinson

A. Golden Age of Muslim Civilization (600’s-800’s) Trade and commerce grew a) traded items from as far as Asia, Scandinavia, and Africa b) set up new business practices 2. Advances in learning a) 830 AD House of Wisdom set up in Baghdad b) preserved the learning of earlier civilazations 1.

B. Foreign Invaders Around 1000 AD, nomads from Central Asia overran the Middle East a) Seljuks and Mongols (Byzantine Empire Weakened) 2. Crusades start around 1095 AD. Last about 100 years. a) Byzantine Emperor calls Christian states for help b) Pope Urban II called for a holy war against Muslims. c) Muslims under General Saladin win 1.

C. Ottoman Empire (1300’s) 1. Turkish speaking people who

converted to Islam. 2. Captured Constantinople ending 1,000 year old Byzantine Empire. Changed city name to Istanbul 3. Sunni Muslims 4. Reached height under Suleiman I from 1520-1566

D. Safavid Empire (Iran) 1. 2. 3. 4.

5.

Fought against Ottoman Empire for Control of Mesopatamia. Shiite Muslims Empire in what is today Iran. Reached its height under Abbas the Great from 1587-1629. Safavid rulers were called Shahs (king) Empire survived until 1736. Shah’s remained until 1979.