Invaders of the Middle East

The Seljuk Turks

Seljuk was the chieftain of a group of Turkish tribes

These tribes were originally from the steppes of central Asia

In the late 10th century, they migrated into modern day Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq and converted to Islam

Challenges to Islam

Seljuk Empire

In 1055, the Seljuk Turks, under their leader Mas’ud, conquer Baghdad, and establish control over the Abbassid Dynasty

At the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, they deal a serious blow to the Byzantine Empire

Much of Anatolia is now under Seljuk Turk control

Challenges to Islam

Seljuks dominate the aging Abbassid Empire

Byzantine Empire is weakened by Seljuk advances into Anatolia (modern day Turkey)

This prompts the Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus to ask Western Christendom for help

Major Impact of the Seljuk Turks

The Byzantine Emperor Alexius convinces Pope Urban to call for a “crusade” to recapture the Holy Land from the Muslims

First Crusade (1096-1099)Captures Jerusalem in 1099Crusader armies establish kingdoms in

Syria and PalestineWhen the Crusaders capture Jerusalem,

they celebrate by killing all Muslims, Jews, and even Orthodox Christians!

Crusaders

http://www.history.com/topics/crusades/videos - the-crusades

The Crusaders

The Crusader Kingdoms in the Middle East last for less than 200 years

Lasting impact was the exposure of Western Europe to the wealth, trade, and knowledge of Middle East culture

Major Impact of the Crusades

The Mongols were from central Asia

Under their great leader Genghis Khan, they would eventually control the largest continuous empire in history

The Mongols

Were very effective cavalry

Left a path of death and destruction in their wake

The Mongols

Extent of Mongol EmpireThe Mongols

In 1258, Hulagu, a grandson of the great Genghis Khan, led a huge Mongol army to invade the Abbassid Empire.

The caliph of Baghdad believed that his forces could withstand a siege.

He was wrong…

Mongol Horsemen

The city of Baghdad fell to the Mongols, and was destroyed

80,000 people were put to the sword, except for the Christians

The Caliph was stuffed into a felt bag and ridden over by hundreds of horses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oo0rZSEC6pA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saBqXxublJU

Mongol Horsemen

Mongol invasions caused terrible destruction in the Middle East

Millions of people were killed, and thousands of towns and cities destroyed

Mongol invasions, did, however, link the Middle East with China and India via trade routes

Impact of Mongol Invasions