The Seljuk Turks

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The Seljuk Turks

Origins/Geography Seljuk Turks were:

nomadic steppe herders :Goats/sheep/camels

Clashed with Islamic empires on northeastern frontiers

10C began conversions and migration into the Abbasid territory

Abbasid took note of their military skills

Slaves to Masters Turkish children

purchased for soldiers/bodyguards called Mameluks

Mameluk forces overpowered Abassid caliph masters

Abassids had hemorrhaged territory (Spain, North Africa, and parts of Persia)

Seljuks (mameluks named for the Persian family that owned them) captured Baghdad

Marched on Byzantines

1055 and held most of Anatolia

Turks secure Persian Support Seljuk rulers wisely won over the

hearts of their Persian conquests Named Isfahan as capital Nomadic Seljuks prized Persian

learning adopting culture and language Arabic language waned Used only by religious scholars

Isfahan

The Crusades and the Turks Crusades

Crusaders were Christian knights and peasants from Europe Pope Urban II launched them to “unify” regain control of the Holy Lands? Between 8 and 11 crusades were launched over

nearly two centuries First two were successful (1096 and 1099):

Muslim and Jewish inhabitants massacred by the rampaging Christians

After 1187: Crusader strength dwindled Seljuk empire gathered strength

under Saladin to recover Jerusalem

Signed a truce with Richard I: granting access to pilgrims

Further Crusades called, but less successful

Saladin and Richard I

Impact of the Crusades was greater on Europeans than on Muslims

Civilizations had been in contact because of trade through Spain and Italy

Europeans gained: weapons, architecture, medicine, Greek learning, Arabic numerals, chess, foods

Most of the exchange was one way

Mongol Armies Genghis Khan emerges in early

1200s Had already conquered China Leveled cities, Baghdad included Mongols eventually utilized

Turkish/Muslim administration techniques, converting