Islam had spread as far as the East as Islamic and Indian rulers have set their power in the fourteenth century by establishing prosperous cities as well as robust businesses in decorative arts. The fourteenth century was a challenging period with overlapping and conquering cultures and empires. This paper will focus on the Islamic powers that existed from 1300 through 1800. The four major Islamic powers included Ottoman, Timurid, Safavid, and Mughal.
Ottoman
Ottoman was an Islamic leader of the Turkish warriors for the faith of Islam. This was more than a group that resulted from the dissolution of the Anatolian Seljuq Sultanate. In 1453, they captured Constantinople, the Byzantine capital, and in 1517, they fought and overthrew Mamluks and controlled the most significant States in the Islamic world (McKay et al., 2014). The Ottomans rules for several centuries with much economical and cultural prosperity.
Timurid
The Timurids were a great dynasty that originated from the Central Asian steppe. The powerful central Asian was named after its founder, who ruled from 1370-1405 (McKay et al., 2014). Timur demonstrated ruthlessness in fighting and conquering neighborhoods. Since his capital has been located across the major crossroads of the Silk Road, which was a major trade route connecting Central Asia, the Middle East, and China, Timur was able to conquer myriads of craftspeople and artisans from the various artistic traditions.
Safavid
The Safavid dynasty came to power in 1501 in Tarbiz, where they later conquered entire Iran. They consisted of mixed ancestry but were originally Sufi and Sunni. The Safavid was resilient enough to dare Mughals in the east and Ottomans in the west. The Safavid Empire was established in what is today known as Iran and lasted from 1501 to 1722. The economic power of the empire came from its position on the trade routes. However, the empire declined after it became corrupt and complacent.
Mughal
Mughal Empire from 1556-1707 was a centralized and fairly efficient empire with resources, complex personnel, and information that was dedicated to the service of the emperor. Much of Mughal’s expansion was during the period was linked to India’s growing cultural and commercial contact with the world (McKay et al., 2014). Ideally, the 16th and 17th centuries brought the expansions and establishment of European and Non-European trading organizations that enhanced the trading network.
Conclusion
The Islamic powers of 1300-1800 took identity from the names of their leaders. The empires were established by conquering the Muslim populations. However, over time they were affected by the gradual changes in the trade routes that bypassed their lands. The Islamic World Powers of 1300-1800 were among the wealthiest empires in the world.