Great Seljuk Empire

Great Seljuk Empire was an empire in Iran (Middle East) that lasted from 1037 to 1194 CE, about 157 years. Its people spoke Turkic languages (Gokturk, Uyghur, Seljuk, Ottoman, Kazakh, Tatar).

Oghuz Turks who took Baghdad in 1055, beat Byzantium at Manzikert in 1071 and ruled from Central Asia to Syria. The vizier Nizam al-Mulk founded madrasas across the empire, which fragmented after 1092.

See Great Seljuk Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1037 to 1194 CE

Duration

157 years

Type

Empire

Region

Iran, Middle East

Language family

Turkic

Capital

Nishapur, Rayy, Isfahan, Merv

Became

• Khwarazmian Empire 1077 to 1231 CE
• Sultanate of Rum 1077 to 1308 CE

Events in Middle East during its time

• 1071 Battle of Manzikert
• 1099 Crusaders take Jerusalem
• 1187 Battle of Hattin

Neighbours in Middle East

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE
• Abbasid Caliphate 750 to 1258 CE
• Zaydi Imamate of Yemen 897 to 1918 CE
• Kingdom of Georgia 1008 to 1490 CE
• Sultanate of Rum 1077 to 1308 CE
• Kingdom of Jerusalem 1099 to 1291 CE
• Bagratid Armenia 885 to 1045 CE
• Khwarazmian Empire 1077 to 1231 CE
• Buyids 934 to 1062 CE
• Zengids 1127 to 1250 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Chola Empire 848 to 1279 CE, South Asia
• Kievan Rus 882 to 1240 CE, Europe
• Fatimid Caliphate 909 to 1171 CE, North and West Africa

Questions