Ottoman Origins One of many Muslim warrior groups on East
frontier of Byzantine Empire Conquered much of western Anatolia
& Balkan Peninsula Most long lived of post-Mongol empires
Slide 3
Ottoman: Turning Point 1453, broke through massive walls &
captured Constantinople Renamed Istanbul Gave Turks control of city
that symbolized Christian teachings & connection to ancient
Rome Strategic location for long-distance trade & military
deployments
Slide 4
Ottomans: 1516-1517 Selim took title of caliph, defender of
faith extended from Black Sea to Red Sea to Strait of Gibraltar
little impact on N. Africa Pashas, appointed government officials,
collected taxes and maintained law & order reported to sultan
in Constantinople
Slide 5
Ottoman Expansion Soldiers and sailors continued to push
borders outward Sultans established administrative rule that
compared favorably with regimes elsewhere Distinctive use of
different type of slavery Based on religion, not skin color Called
Devshirme
Slide 6
Ottoman: Suleiman I 1520 expanded Ottoman rule into Europe and
West Med. Sea ruled for 46 years great military commander, known
for legislation as well codified Ottoman law-kept Islamic faith
Tolerance for Christians of the Empire addressed taxes built more
schools
Slide 7
Ottomans Suleiman married harem girl from Poland named
Roxelana-had 5 children with her executed his eldest son, Mustafa,
because Roxelana said he was planning to kill Suleiman and take
power her son Selim took power when Suleiman died in 1566
Slide 8
Ottomans success largely based on mastery of firearm technology
Sultans head of empire supreme political & military authority
Power always transferred to single authority position of sultan was
hereditary son always succeeded father
Slide 9
Ottomans Since time of Mehmet II, sultans ruled from the
Topkaki Palace in Istanbul administrative headquarters & chief
residence of sultan private domain of sultan called harem, or
sacred place Sultans often chose 4 wives as favorites When son
became sultan, his mother became queen mother - acted as a major
adviser to throne
Slide 10
Ottoman Centralized Power Chief advisor was Grand Vizier Led
meetings of imperial council - met 4 days a week Sultan sat behind
screen- made wishes known to GV Empire divided into districts-ruled
by officials who were helped by bureaucrats trained at palace
schools Senior officials given land - collected taxes &
supplied armies
Slide 11
Ottomans Sunni Sultans claimed title of caliph responsible for
guiding & keeping Islamic law In practice, they gave their
religious duties to the ulema- a group of religious advisors Ulema
were responsible for legal system & schools for educating
Muslims
Slide 12
Ottomans Tolerant of non-Muslims Non-Muslims paid tax, but
allowed to practice their religion & could convert to Islam
Most people in European areas remained Christian In some areas,
large numbers converted to Islam
Slide 13
Ottomans & Portuguese Threat In early 16 th century,
merchants form south India & Sumatra requested help from
Ottomans Ottomans responded vigorously to threat close to their
territory did not see growing threat of world wide naval powers
like Portuguese Never formulated a consistent aggressive policy in
Indian Ocean to counter growing European dominance- Trapped in land
based paradigm when world was shifting to naval power
Slide 14
Ottoman: Devshrime (Child Levy) Christian boys taken by force
from families Placed w/Turks Converted to Islam Trained for service
in one of four royal institutions Palace Scribes Religious
Military
Slide 15
Ottoman Institutions: Janissary Corps By 1520s, military
balanced between cavalry archers and Janissaries-Christian
prisoners forced to serve as military slaves Standing army-lived in
barracks and trained all year Willing to fight on foot with
guns
Slide 16
Ottoman Military Muslim states relied on slave soldiers for
long time Conquest of Christian lands provided new military source
Converted to Islam Provided flexibility-willing to fight on foot
with guns Ottoman were horse culture-guns too heavy and awkward on
horseback
Slide 17
Ottoman Navy Manned by Greek, Turkish, Algerian, Tunisian
sailors with N. African admirals Turning Point: Lost battle of
Lepanto against Venice, Spain, Papal States in 1571-dispelled idea
of Ottoman invincibility Despite loss, their resources were so
extensive that within a year, replaced all galleys that were
sunk
Slide 18
Ottoman Society: Cosmopolitan, sophisticated Sharia Law Sultan
provided justice The Askeri Professionals/Military Elites provided
security The Raya Professionals Merchants-exempt from taxes
Tradesmen Guild Members Peasants Non-Muslims-local customs and
religious leaders provided structure and guidance
Slide 19
Ottoman: Crisis and Revolt 1585-1650 Cannon &
lighter-weight firearms gained importance Size/cost of Janissary
grew Role of traditional cavalry diminished Sultan reduced number
of landholding cavalrymen Revenue that used to go to their
expenses, went into imperial treasury Inflation from cheap silver
from New World bankrupted many landholders who were restricted to
fixed amount of taxes Land returned to the state Displaced
cavalrymen, armed and unhappy, became a restive element
Slide 20
Ottoman Crisis and Revolt Revolts between 1590-1610
Marauders/Bandits Former landholding cavalrymen, short-term
soldiers Overburdened peasants Impoverished students Anatolia
suffered the worst Government inability to stop spread of guns
Slide 21
Ottoman Janissary Privilege Janissaries forced changes that
helped the state in short run: Could support themselves Hereditary
Forced recruitment abolished Total number of Janissaries increased,
effectiveness as military force decreased
Slide 22
Ottoman Economic Changes: Tax Farming Sultans became more
isolated Grand Viziers had real power Tax farmers paid specific
taxes in advance in return for collecting a greater amount from
taxpayers Rural administration disrupted Tax farmers less likely to
live on land State had greater administrative burden to maintain
order Relied on provincial governors & on wealthy who purchased
lifelong tax collection rights
Slide 23
Ottoman Growing Weakness Demographic changes, Ottoman inability
to control trade, growing dominance of European traders in Indian
Ocean turned Izmir into multicultural entrepot Agricultural economy
of lands most accessible to Europe became enmeshed in growing
European commercial networks Ottoman security weakened
Slide 24
Ottoman Weakness Military power decline Janissaries sometime
hired replacements Sultans relied on poorly trained seasonal
recruits 2 nd Seige of Vienna failed in 1683 Weakness obvious to
Austrians and Russians Safavid empire collapsed in 1722
Slide 25
Ottoman Weakness began w/ Selim II about 1699 training of
officials declined senior positions given to sons/daughters of
elite, based less on merit elite only interested in own fortunes,
so local government grew more corrupt and taxes rose Wars depleted
imperial treasury
Slide 26
Ottoman Weakness Declining trade w/East as Safavid instability
cut into Silk production Taxes on coffee were higher to Muslim
merchants 15% vs 3% Europe dominated sea trade but did not gain
control of Ottoman territory
Slide 27
Ottoman Weakness: The Tulip Period Very few able to perceive
downward spiral of Ottoman power & reasons for it Ironically,
elites became fascinated with European styles & attitudes Tulip
Bulb craze= growing detachment/ disengagement from real issues
Slide 28
Weakness: Patrona Halil Rebellion 1730, a revolt by Janissary
with religious overtones forced the abdication of Sultan Ahmed II
Halil took control but was executed Confirmed that central
government weak Local powers gained power
Slide 29
Safavid Empire: 1501-1722
Slide 30
Safavid Origins Safavid Dynasty started w/ Shah Ismail
descendant of Safi al-Din-leader of Turkish ethnic groups in
Azerbaijan near Caspian Sea Under Ismail, Safavid took control of
much of Iran & Iraq Relied on cavalry paid through land grants
Multi-lingual Oriented inward-not towards the sea
Slide 31
Safavids Ismail called himself shah, or king, of new Persian
state Ismail was Shiite Theocracy Created distinct Shiite identity
sent preachers to different areas to convert members of Ottoman
Empire led to massacre of Sunni Muslims when he took Baghdad Ismail
lost at Tabriz to Suleiman over religious differences
Slide 32
Safavid: Shah Abbas, 1588-1629 Restless, decisive, ruthless,
intelligent, disciplined brought Safavids to highest point of glory
Standardized Shiite beliefs- brought into line with Sharia law
usurped throne from father & imprisoned him later killed man
who helped him gain throne With European allies, attacked Ottoman
Turks to regain lost lands
Slide 33
Safavid: Shah Abbas I Enlarged Iranian territory Stabilizing
force after period of civil war and foreign invasions Established
global trade contacts between Asia and Europe Built Isfahan Donated
generously Employed calligraphers, painters, bookbinders, designers
for inscriptions on buildings Created a visual style that would be
associated with his reign Laid foundation for Modern Iran
Slide 34
Safavid Empire: Shah Abbas I When he took power, Ottomans
occupied West Iran, the Caucasus, and Iraq Uzbeks controlled
Khurasan- including holy shrine of Imam Riza at Mashad Regained
territory with slave army of ghulams, Christian slaves who had
converted Seized Hormuz from Portuguese Defeated Ottomans, regained
Baghdad-allowed access to holy Shiite sites Controlled trade in
Persian Gulf
Slide 35
Safavids: Shad Abbas and Sufism Mystical strain of Islam found
in both Sunni and Shia sects Also known as dervishes Achieve
oneness w/ god though prayer, rituals, visions- retreat from
material world Shah Abbas was Sufi & tolerant but would repress
unorthodox Sufi beliefs or practices or if his authority was
threatened
Slide 36
Safavids Safavid Empire went from Azerbaijan on Caspian Sea
east to India; along the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea north to the
southern border of Russia When Shah Abbas died, religious orthodoxy
increased Women forced to give up freedom for life of seclusion-
wearing veil Not cut off from outside world Wife retained property
after marriage-gave some women a stake in general economy and a
degree of independence Under Sharia women could testify for
themselves
Slide 37
Safavid Religion Shiite Beliefs united Safavid Created further
estrangement from neighbors-all Sunni Persian language 2 nd after
Arabic Developed unique cultural elements in tile mosaics, poetry
Shiite doctrine says that all temporal leaders are stand-ins for
the Hidden Imam; the 12 th descendent of Ali Debate over the
relationship between religion & politics led to religious
scholars independent from imperial authority-did not become
subordinate government functionaries like in Ottoman Empire
Slide 38
Safavid: Isfahan Isfahan-jewel of Safavid Empire Silk &
carpet weaving flourished Riza-i-Abbasi most famous artist of the
time beautiful works about simple subjects such as oxen plowing,
hunters, and lovers soft colors and flowing movement in
painting
Slide 39
Safavid: Economy Silks and carpets were important commercial
goods Good location on trade routes Became rich from growing trade
between Europe and Central Asia and India Both Muslim and Non-
Muslim traders Most subjects were farmers/herders
Slide 40
Safavid: Economic Crisis and Political Collapse Most subjects
were subsistence farmers no significant technological developments
Could not generate enough money for military and bureaucracy
Inflation from cheap silver from New World Mismanagement of silk
industry Nomadic groups withdrew support Afghan marauders captured
Isfahan and ended Safavid rule
Slide 41
Mughal Empire: 1605-1707 Babur founder- united Hindu &
Muslim kingdoms descendant of Mongol Conqueror Timur Lenk Took
Khyber Pass in NW India & Delhi in N. India Small armies but
had weapons, artillery, & used them w/ great effect
Slide 42
Mughal Akbar the Great was grandson of Babur placed most of
India under Mughal control by use of artillery and negotiation
Formed alliances with Hindu Rajput Kingdoms best known for his
tolerance adopted a policy of religious tolerance married Hindu
princess Zamindars were low ranking officials of Hindu descent who
got paid by keeping part of collected taxes part of his toleration
of government administration
Slide 43
Mughal Shah Jahan ruled 1628-1658 used political system started
by earlier Mughal rulers expanded boundaries into Deccan Plateau
and Samarkand in Hindu Kush Money spent on buildings and military
projects drained the treasury-had to raise taxes best known for Taj
Mahal mausoleum for favorite wife, Mumatz Mahal
Slide 44
Mughal Aurangzeb took over from his father, Shah Jahan had his
brother put to death devout Muslim- high principles Imposed Sharia
Law tried to eliminate social evils suttee (Hindu practice of
cremating a widow on her husbands funeral pyre) levying illegal
taxes, gambling, drinking Ended policy of religious tolerance tried
to convert Hindus, tore down temples Imposed heavy tax on Hindus
Conquered Hindu kingdoms in central India, took slaves led to
social unrest that made India open to attack from abroad
Slide 45
Mughal British helped decline of Mughal Empire Sir Robert
Clive-chief representative of British East India Company 1696,
British East India gained control of Indian trade by taking Bengal,
Calcutta Indians practiced guerilla warfare against British but
couldnt dislodge them
Slide 46
Womens Lives Under Mughal Complex played a role in Mughal
tribal society warriors & advisors in political matters Could
own land & do business Experienced restrictions under Islamic
law isolation of women was practiced in upper class Hindu families
Many Hindu practices went unchanged by Mughal rule
Slide 47
Mughal Art & Architecture brought together Persian and
Indian influences in art & architecture Taj Mahal- greatest
example of Mogul architecture Akbar encouraged Persian & Indian
motifs Akbar style included humans in action He encouraged artists
to imitate European art forms, including perspective & lifelike
portraits He commissioned artists from Persia & Europe to teach
Indian artists
Slide 48
Mughal Urdu= Arabic + Hindi Education considered pupils needs
and culture
Slide 49
Maritime Worlds of Islam, 1500-1750 Some SE Asian kingdoms
welcome Islam to counter aggressive Christianity of Europeans
Muslims in coastal Africa intermarried with locals Created mixed
population that played a key part in development of distinctive
Swahili culture
Slide 50
Conclusion All three Empires declined simultaneously Land-based
empires dependent on land grants could not provide money needed for
expensive weapons Sea-based empires flourished from new ship
designs, navigational accuracy, cannon, joint- stock companies, and
aggressive trading tactics Balance of power shifted- favored
Europeans
