The Seljuk Turk Empire was a
Turko-Persian medieval power that controlled a vast region stretching from Asia
Minor, through the Levant, deep into Persian and Central Asia. It was founded
in 1037 by Tughril Beg and was a Sunni Empire. The Seljuk’s played a role in
exporting both Persian and Turkic culture. The Empire’s zenith occurred around
1092 following the death of Malik Shah I.
It clashed frequently with
the Byzantine Empire scoring a major victory over its Christian foe in 1071 at
the Battle of Manzikert. Famous Emperors include Alp Arslan (victor at
Manzikert), Tughril himself (who captured Baghdad from the Abbasids) and Malik
Shah I (who masterminded the expansion into Persia).
After the death of Malik Shah
I, his sons clashed with each other weakening the Empire. It further suffered
defeat at the hands of the Georgians and was weakened by clashes with the
Crusades. By the 13th century
the Seljuks were in decline with a new Empire, the Ottoman’s rising up in their
place.
The legacy of the Seljuks is seen
in their promotion of academic scholarship. They were great patrons of the art
and literature and under their rule the Persians enjoyed a renaissance
characterized by the writing of Philosopher poet Omar Khayyam and al-Ghazali.
They made contact with
Western Europe through the twin vehicles of war and trade thus spreading many
of their learned gains to a broader base.
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