established capital in Baghdad (now Iraq)

originally Shia Islam, but became tolerant of Sunni (the first to do so)

mathematical, technological, art, scientific advances (astrolabe, optic surgery, mosques)

heightened trades:
(ex.) that brought Indian system of numbers, which influences the Arabian numerals

Sufis, or mystics, began to increase their missions and spread Islam

Did not address the problem of Islamic Succession

High taxes made leaders decreasingly less popular

The Abbasid dynasty eventually ended when the Mongols executed the Abbasid caliph

Umayyad family came to Islamic power when the assassination of Ali happened in c. 661 CE

They emphasized Arabic ethnicity over adherence to Islam

Although required to pay taxes for charities and properties, Jews and Christians were allowed to freely worship and self rule

Luxurious living for the ruling families, thus riots among the general population occurred among the general population

Those riots led to the overthrow of the Umayyad by the Abbasid Dynasty in c. 750 CE

In c. 1200 the Islamic heartland had fractured politically into "sultanates" ruled by Persian and Turkish military dynasties. But they met their demise, when the Mongols invaded and destroyed the Abbasid Caliphate

Thus, the Ottoman Empire took responsibility of this and became the political unity to the Islamic world

Initially in Anatolia Peninsula and Southern Europe (The Balkans)

Eventually took Middle East, coast of North Africa, lands surrounding the Black Sea, Eastern Europe

Empire of large territory, long duration, incorporation of many diverse peoples, economics, and cultural sophistication

Represented the emergence of the Turks, as the dominant people of the Islamic world

Claimed the legacy of the earlier Abbasid Empire, as they added "caliph" to their title

The Ottomans sought to bring out a renewed unity to the Islamic world, while also served as protector of the faith and being "the strong sword of Islam"

Brought to the Islamic Middle East a greater measure of political coherence, military power, economic prosperity, and cultural brilliance