In Chapter 11, you learned about three new empires that arose in Islamic lands after the crusades and the Mongol invasion. One of these empires was the Muslim Ottoman Empire. At its height, in the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire included most of southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of North Africa.

The Ottoman Empire was strong and well organized. At the very top of society was the sultan. Below him was a small group of wealthy nobles, who helped the sultan rule. Under them came the vast majority of the population, the commoners. At the very bottom were the slaves.

Men and women led very different lives in the Ottoman Empire. The typical Muslim house was divided into two sections, one for men and one for women and children. The women's side was called the haram, meaning "forbidden." The intent was to protect women and children, but it also kept women secluded from the outside world. Women stayed mostly in their homes. Depending on their social class, they took care of the house or supervised servants or slaves who did the cooking and cleaning. Slaves were usually bought from slave markets. Most slaves lost their freedom when they were taken prisoner, kidnapped, or sold by poor parents into slavery.

The Ottoman Empire reached its peak in the 16th century, under Sultan Suleyman I. Below is a biography of Suleyman I. As you read, think about why Suleyman was such an effective ruler.

Suleyman was the grandson and son of sultans, or kings. When he was just 7 years old, he was sent to Istanbul to live with his grandfather, the sultan at that time. In Istanbul he studied history, science, literature, and religion. As a future ruler of the Ottoman Empire, he also studied war tactics and techniques. From 15 to 26, he acquired valuable ruling experience, governing first one province and then another.

He was 26 when he became sultan himself, upon the death of his father. He immediately began to expand his empire, both to the west and east. In the west, he conquered much of Greece, Hungary, and a large part of the Austrian Empire. To the east, he waged campaigns against Persia. He was a brilliant general and, during his reign, more than doubled the territories inherited from his father. But Suleyman was more than just a military man. He also had a reputation as a fair ruler. He had many laws written down, and he enforced them in a just manner.

Suleyman was also a great supporter of the arts. He himself is considered one of the great poets of Islam. Under his rule, Istanbul became a thriving center for art, music, literature. He sponsored many architectural projects, including the building of mosques and palaces. He employed one of the greatest architects in history, a man named Sinan. The mosques Sinan built are more than just beautiful. Some of them are triumphs of engineering.

Historians generally consider Suleyman's reign to be the high point of Ottoman culture. While Ottoman culture continued to flourish during the reign of Suleyman's son, the empire's power slowly began to decline.

Investigating Biographies

Write a newspaper obituary (also called an obit) of Sultan Suleyman I. An obituary is written after a person's death. It discusses that person's life. Your obituary of Sulyman should