State-Society Relations in the Ottoman era: A very brief overview

Ottoman basics: who, what, when

One of the world’s biggest and longest-lived empires

1300-1918

Muslim Turkish dynasty: Osmanlılar

Territory from Europe to N. Africa

The fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans, 1453.

Mehmet II departs for Constantinople

Map of the Ottoman Empire at its height

Ottoman Empire and Tributary States, 1566 to 1700

Basic Ottoman State Functions

Defend the borders of the empire

Protect the faith

 Collect taxes

Maintain public peace

How does this differ from the function of modern states?

State-society relations, in a nutshell

multi-ethnic empire State did NOT attempt to create cultural conformity.Ruling classes from many ethnic groups and religions

multi-lingual empireMain language at court: Ottoman Turkish

Also Arabic, Persian

Everyday language: your choice

DecentralizedState largely ruled through governors and local notable familiesLarge amounts of local autonomy

Center-periphery relations rather than horizontal between communities

Linking State and Society

Taxes and landTax farmingNearly all land owned by the state (until 18th-19th c.)

Religious institutes and religious frameworks

Islam as a unifying mediumJustice: state-society compact

Administrationstate-provincial relations

Status of non-Muslims under Ottoman rule

Superior legal status accorded to MuslimsDhimmis – special protection for “people of the book”

Special taxesSome restrictions on building, etc.

The Millet systemSemi-autonomous religious communities (Greeks, Armenians, Jews)

How does this compare to the treatment of religious minorities in Europe at this time?

Basic divisions in society not between ethnic/religious groups but between the ruling class (Asker) & the ruled (reaya, the “flock”)

Asker (ruling classes)

Sultan/CaliphVizier and

PashaBureaucracy/

civil serviceLocal notables

(ayan)Ulema –Muslim

religious eliteMilitary –

Janissaries (paid standing army loyal to Sultan)

An Ottoman cavalry man in the late 17th century.

Society, and other reps of state

Settled peasants and villagersTribes

Some nomadic, some settled

Prominent familiesscholars and clericsSufi brotherhoods (tarikat)Merchants, Guilds

Other Ottoman officials in the provinces – judges, governors, financial officials, rural police

Diversity in Dress: Images of women from the late Ottoman Empire. From Racinet’s Historic Costume.

Sixteenth century war prisoners and the condemned being marched to prison at Topkapi Palace. Source: http://www2.egenet.com.tr/mastersj/encyclopedia-c.html

3 phases of Ottoman state-society relations

1.   Rise, expansion, and consolidation of Ottoman state, 1300-1683

2. transformation of the state and territorial retraction,  1683-1798

State withdrawal from social life.

Many provinces virtually autonomous.

3. Long 19th century, 1798-1918