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Ottoman Empire

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“Gunpowder” Empires

The Safavid Empire

The Ottoman Empire

The Mughal Empire

From 1300 to 1700, three “gunpowder empires” dominated parts of Europe, Africa, & Asia

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How were the Ottomans established?

  • Turkic warrior group that slowly migrated into Anatolia.
  • “Founded” by Osman in 1299 – took advantage of chaos in Anatolia following Crusades and Mongol invasion.
  • Sunni Muslims
  • 1453 - Mehmed II conquered Constantinople making it the new capital.
  • International trade gave the Ottomans significant wealth and stability.
  • Expanded through 1500s in both Europe & Asia – reaching its ”Golden Age” under Suleiyman.

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How did the Ottomans build loyalty?

  • Devshirme System – “Blood tax”
  • Janissaries – Elite soldiers who eventually became involved in politics.
  • Sunni Islam not focused on conversion or forced assimilation – General toleration for Christians, Jews, and non-Muslims.
  • Turkic culture blended with conquered peoples who were “generally” well treated.
  • Suleiyman the “Lawgiver” – Legal reform limited physical punishment, simplified laws, reinforced basic Islamic principles.

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How was the Ottoman Empire maintained?

  • Millet System – Independent court of law that administered different religious communities. Muslim Sharia Law, Catholic Canon law, Jewish Halakha law.
  • Tax Farming – Auctioning taxing rights to the highest bidder. “Privatization” of tax system.
  • Mosques and Monuments – Prestige and religious legitimcy

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Topkapi Palace

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How was power shared between elites and conquered people?

  • Turks remained the dominant ethnic group
  • Islam was the dominant religious group – Non Muslims kept out of public service and high profile decisions.

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  • Civil “rights” and privilidges maintained within the multi-cultural empire.
  • State officials, Grand Vizier, Janissaries, Pashas, etc. would eventually challenge central authority of Sultan as Ottoman Empire declined.

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Safavid Empire

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SAFAVID EMPIRE (1501-1722)

Ismai’il Saf al-Din took Iran and created an empire based on Shiite Islam.

Rulers known as Shahs (Persian for ‘King)

No religious freedom; convert to Shi’a Islam or die.

    • Shiites kills Sunnis in Safavid Empire
    • Sunnis kill Shiites in Ottoman Empire

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Golden Age of Shah Abbas: 1587

  • Cultural blending w/Ottoman, Persian & Arab worlds and architecture
  • Chinese artisans arrive and help build up capital of Isfahan.
  • Persian carpets best product.
  • Modern weaponry
  • Punished corruption, emphasized loyalty

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Safavid Decline and Fall

Shahs had family members killed to keep others from claiming power.

Tribal armies from Afghanistan took over eastern territory.

Ottomans began taking western territory.

Safavids died politically, but never culturally - left behind a strong Persian cultural legacy