The Gunpowder Empires: Ottomans, Safavids, and Moguls 1450-1800

Background and Directions: Three Muslim empires, each united by the Islamic religion and its ruling dynasty, reached the height of their power at different times between 1450 and 1800. All three empires created brilliant cultures and societies that rivaled the major accomplishments and characteristics of Europe and East Asia. Therefore, in order to study each empires accomplishments and characteristics, you and your “study buddy” will use your textbook and any accurate and available online resources to complete the questions posed in these skeletal notes. Each section is expected to be completed at the end of each period and will be assessed and discussed as a class.

The Ottomans

1. Examine the map above and identify the territories that the Ottomans controlled.

2. The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks served as a turning point in history for the Ottoman Empire and Europe, explain how:

a. The Ottoman Empire became stronger:?

b. European trade with Asia was effected as a result of the fall of Constantinople and what was there response:?

3. The Centralized Ottoman System is very similar to the European absolute systems that we studied in Chapter 5

a. Centralized Ottoman Governmenti. Explain the roles of each underlined individual in the Ottoman Political System

1. Sultan: 2. Grand Vizier 3. Empire was divided into districts in which an official with the help of a Pasha governed

each province.

a. Pasha:

b. Strong Military System: Janissary Corpsi. From where were the soldiers of the Janissary Corp formed?

ii. Transformed into Muslim Soldiers trained, paid, and equipped very well to be loyal to the ______?

c. What was the capital of the Ottoman Empire:

d. What was the Topkapi Palace

e. Religious Controli. Sultan claimed to be Caliph of Sunni Muslim Religion

1. What is a Caliph:

ii. How did the Ottoman Millet System work: 1. ___________________________2. ____________________________3. Exemplified Religious Toleration from Ottomans

f. Social Statusi. Ruling Elite were atop

1. Describe all other individuals below: a. Peasants: b. Aristans: c. Merchants:

i. The Merchant was well respected and valuedd. Pastoral People:

g. Culture:i. Great appreciation for Art and Architecture

ii. Facilitated and Patronized their development1. Greatest Products?:

h. What factors led to the Decline and Disintegration of the Ottomansa. _________ and __________fought over controlb. Corruption from Bureaucratic positions headed by family not __________

officialsc. Constant and Failed Warfare to expand territory drained _______________d. Appearance of Western (European) culture, such as the use of tobacco and coffee

emerged and were resisted by traditional authoritiese. Economic decline in trade as European products were cheaper due to the high

standards and prices dictated by Ottoman ___________.

The Safavid Empire

http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/evans/his112/notes/Safavid.html

1. Examine the map above and identify territories that made up the Safavid Empire

2. Savafid Empire was Established by Shah _______ of the _____ Muslim Faith

3. Difficult to Absolutely Centralize Powera. Mixed Society between numerous Turkish ______ and Safavid _______b. Shah Abbas successfully modernized and strengthened militaryc. Effective Royal officials were chosen based on _______ and not _______d. Established Royal City of _________e. Safavid promoted and expanded the ______ Faithf. Promoted substantial economic activity through _________

i. Explain these “markets”: 1.

g. However, The Safavid were not as successful as the Ottomans and Moguls, WHY?1. Religious Setbacks due to ___________________

a. Forced conversion, exile, persecution of Sunnib. Suppressed intellectual and cultural freedoms

i. Ex: women were forced to wear veils

2. Why were the Safavid were Economically Disadvantaged:

Answer:

Mogul Empire

1. Examine the map above and identify territories that make up the Mogul Empire:

2. Foundation of Moghul Empire was founded by “__________” and his grandson “______________”a. (Territorial Expansion) Consolidated many fragmented Hindu and Muslim Kingdoms into an empire

through the use of a strong military force that utilized ____________ and crafty negotiation.

3. Pinnacle of Mogul Dynasty: Shah Akbar and Tolerancea. How did Shah Akbar Stress Religious Tolerance:

a.

b. How did Shah Akbar incorporate Hindu’s in his Government?a. Explain Zamindars:

c. Economics:a. Foreign trade was promoted as Indian textiles and spices were highly popular in

Europe and exchanged for gold and silver

b. Taxes were also fairly applied to peasants, such as a total of 33% of income, which could be reduced or eliminated during times of famine and hardship.

d. Cultural Blendingi. Hindus adopted portions of Islamic culture such as isolating women, but also tried to retain their

own cultural practices such as the suttee that was banned by the Muslims.a. Explain the practice of the Suttee

a.ii. Blend of Architecture also created one of the most beautiful buildings in the world: The Taj

Mahal

1. Locate and insert a picture of the Taj Mahal Here

2. Why was the Taj Mahal constructed?Tomb for Shah Jahan’s deceased wife

4. Mogul Decline: Shah Aurangzeba. How did the pursuit of Territorial Expansion facilitate the Mogul decline:

a.

b. Describe Shah Aurangzeb’s Policies of Intolerance toward Hindusa.

c. Created a very divided empire between Muslims and Hindus that was susceptible to European Interference

i. Describe the British East India Company Presence in India1. What is a joint stock company?

a.

2. What powers did this company have?a.

3. What impact did this company’s policies have on the Hindu and Muslim societies?

a.