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Sunni Islam was the official religion of the Ottoman Empire. The highest position in Islam, caliphate, was claimed by the sultan, after the defeat of the Mamluks which was established as Ottoman Caliphate. The Sultan was to be a devout Muslim and was given the literal authority of the Caliph.
What religion was the Ottoman Empire based on?
Officially the Ottoman Empire was an Islamic Caliphate ruled by a Sultan, Mehmed V, although it also contained Christians, Jews and other religious minorities. For nearly all of the empire’s 600-year existence these non-Muslim subjects endured systematic discrimination and, at times, outright persecution.
Did the Ottomans take over Mecca?
When the Ottomans conquered Mamluk territory in 1517, the role of the Ottoman sultan in the Hijaz was first and foremost to take care of the Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina, and provide safe passage for the many Muslims from various regions who travelled to Mecca in order to perform the Hajj.
Was Saudi Arabia in the Ottoman Empire?
The Ottoman Period (1517-1915) Parts of the region now known as Saudi Arabia were annexed by the Ottoman Empire in phases, beginning in 1517, first Hijaz with Mecca and Medina, and later Hasa, the strip of land along the Persian Gulf.
Is the Ottoman Empire still relevant in Saudi Arabia?
As the Ottoman Empire was referred to in Saudi Arabia by its proper name for decades and viewed as part of the historical fabric of the region that had an immense influence on even social and cultural norms and customs, these recent changes can only be described as politically motivated.
What happened to Arabia after the fall of the Ottoman Empire?
Dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Ottoman Empire continued to control or have a suzerainty (albeit nominal) over most of the peninsula. Subject to this suzerainty, Arabia was ruled by a patchwork of tribal rulers, with the Sharif of Mecca having pre-eminence and ruling the Hejaz.
When did Saudi Arabia gain control of Medina?
The Saudi emirate gained control of Taif in 1802, and of Medina in 1804. The first Saudi state was destroyed by 1818 by the Ottoman viceroy of Egypt, Mohammed Ali Pasha.
What is the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
The history of Saudi Arabia in its current form as a nation state began with the emergence of the Al Saud dynasty in central Arabia in 1744 and the subsequent establishment of the Emirate of Diriyah . The territory that now constitutes Saudi Arabia was the site of several ancient cultures and civilizations.