LESSON 4.5 Who was Suleiman the Magnificent?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to describe the achievements of Suleiman the Magnificent and compare his leadership strategies to other Ottoman rulers.
Tune in Suleiman the Magnificent, Alexander the Great, and the less impressive Vasily the Cross-Eyed (a fifteenth-century Russian ruler) — many leaders throughout history have used or been given nicknames that represented their physical, philosophical or political characteristics. Think of a famous leader and create a title or epithet for them based on their most notable characteristic (e.g., a physical trait, achievement, or philosophy). Why do you think this title would represent them well? Share your thoughts with a partner or the class.
SOURCE1 ‘The Magnificent’ is a nickname that suggests a lot about Sultan Suleiman.
4.5.1 Extending the empire The Ottoman Empire continued to expand following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Under Selim I (1512–20), the empire had almost doubled in size; it included the territories of Syria and Egypt, parts of Persia and the Islamic holy places of Medina and Mecca, as shown in SOURCE2 . Selim I claimed the title of caliph of the Islamic world. But it was Selim’s son, Suleiman, who was to become one of the most famous rulers of the Ottoman Empire. Suleiman became Sultan in 1520 at the age of 29. Under his rule, the Ottoman Empire became the largest empire of the time and Suleiman was greatly respected and admired by the kings of Europe. He was a gifted poet and craftsman, and his rule saw great developments in art, literature and science; however, it was for his military accomplishments that Suleiman is more well-known (see SOURCE2 ). To the west, Suleiman pushed the Ottomans’ territory further into Europe, toward the Christian strongholds of Belgrade and Vienna. To the east, he conquered Persia, and to the south, the important port city of Aden. Suleiman’s forces also captured significant territory in North Africa.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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