Changes

Shortly after the death of Muhammad in 632, his followers divided themselves into factions that sought control over the community of believers of what would become known as Islam. Early Islamic thinkers and leaders believed that under the new religion, the “church” and state should be combined in one government hierarchy, known as a <i>caliphate</i>, and ruled by a single autocratic ruler or <i>caliph</i>. Throughout early Islamic history many despots claimed the status of caliph, but few of the early dynasties that claimed to be the caliphate fit the criteria of having the majority of the Muslims under its rule and by having control of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Scholars generally consider the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties to be the first two caliphates, with the Ottoman Empire being the third great Islamic caliphate.

Although the Ottoman rulers usually referred to themselves as sultans instead of caliphs, the Ottoman Empire fit the definition of a true Islamic caliphate: at its height, most of the Islamic world, including the holy cities, were under its rule. A number of factors contributed to the Ottoman Empire becoming the third great Islamic caliphate, which included some traits the Ottomans brought with them to Anatolia and others they developed once they were established. The nomadic nature of the Turks was one of the primary factors that helped the Ottomans defeat their more sedentary and civilized enemies. Once they established a foothold in Anatolia, the Ottoman Turks were willing to accept ideas from all types of people and employed many of these peoples, even non-Muslims, in their government.