The Seljuk Empire

The Seljuk Empire

Expansion in the Seljuk Empire

The Seljuk Empire had a significant impact on the expansion of Islam during the medieval period. Converted to Islam by a Sufi missionary, the Seljuks filled a power vacuum left by the Arab Abassaid Caliphate. Led by Turkish nomads, the Seljuk Empire captured Baghdad in 1055 Gregorian, 447 Hijri, ultimately taking over the Abbasid Caliphate. With the capture of Baghdad, the Seljuks provided safety and The Seljuk Empire turned Baghdad into a center of learning with massive advancements in science and religion. Berkey writes about how the Seljuk empire brought “political stability to the central Islamic world, including Iraq, much of Iran, as well as parts of Syria.” Overall, Berkey argues that the Seljuk Empire’s “impact on the course of Islamic history over the rest of the Middle Period was enormous.”

Jonathan P. Berkey

Berkey, Jonathan P. The Formation of Islam (Cambridge University Press, 2002).

Cambridge University Press

1055 Gregorian 447 Hijri

English

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