Seljuks

The Seljuks went on to establish an empire in Iran that soon extended to Mesopotamia, where Tughril captured Baghdad in 1055 and assumed the titles of sultan and shahanshah (shah of shahs). His nephew and successor, Alp Arslan (1063–1072), defeated and captured the Byzantine emperor in the battle of Manzikert (Malazgird) and opened Anatolia to Turkish migration. His son, Malekshah (1072–1092), completed the conquest of Syria in 1084. The empire thus extended from the Oxus to the Mediterranean. It is known as the empire of the Great Seljuks , and remained unified for some half a century.

Major rulers/figures in their kingdom.

ALP ARSLAN

• As the ruler of the great Seljuk Empire he ruled with the help of his wazir Nizam Al-Mulk and invaded the Byzantine Empire.

AL GHAZALI

• A theologian, philosopher, and mystic. His contribution to the Islamic thought are sometimes considered to be almost as important as the prophets contributions and are considered to advance scientific progress.

MALIK SHAH

• Sultan of the great Seljuk Empire with the help of his fathers Vizier Nizam Al-Mulk, and under their command, the Seljuk armies successfully battled the Ghaznavids, the Fatamids, and the Abbasid.

What is the area called today?
Today, the area once known as the Seljuk Empire is now known as Hindu Kush, Western Anatolia, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf.

WHAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS DID THEY HAVE WITH OTHER NATIONS?
Overall, the Seljuks tended to adopt with what was around them. They had adopted the Persian culture along with Islamic faith. Their culture contained many languages and traditions. The Seljuks also contacted with the traditions of the Byzantine and Christian populations living in Anatolia at this time.

Everyday life.
During this time the family structure was patriarchal, consisting of mother, father, children, and sometimes close relatives. Young men and women were not able to see or get to know one another, nor to choose the person they were to marry.

How did they treat their subjects?
Seljuks were led by fierce and competent rulers, yet still had freedom and were not treated to harshly.

Views on religion?
Because the Turkish Seljuks had no Islamic tradition or strong literary heritage of their own, had gradually converted to Sunni Islam.

TIMELINE.

Year 1071- Alp ARSLAN defeats Romanos IV Diogenis of the Byzantine Empire.

Year 1077- Sulaymaniyah I is appointed as a governor in Seljuk possessions in Anatolia. But acts independently and founds a state.

Year 1081- Tzachas founds a principality in Izmir, giving the Seljuks access to the Aegean Sea.

Year 1084- conquest of Antakya, South Anatolia.

Year 1086-Süleyman I tries to add Syria to his realm, but commits suicide after being defeated by his cousin Tutush I in the battle of Aynu Seylem, Syria.

Year 1101- Kiliç Arslan I defeats Stephen of Blois and Hugh of Vermandois of the second wave of First Crusades at the battle of Mersivan.

Year 1107- Kiliç ARSLAN conquers Musul, Iraq, but is defeated in the battle.

SOURCES

• World history series: the Islamic empire- by Phyllis Corzine-book
• Handbook to life in the Medieval world-by Madeleine Cosman-book
• Wikipedia-internet
• Britannicca-internet
• IC.galegroup.com-internet