Chapter 17 New Asian Empires Islamic Empires 1500

Chapter 17: New Asian Empires

Islamic Empires – 1500 -1800 CE

The Ottoman Empire (1289 -1923) n Osman leads bands of semi-nomadic Turks to become ghazi (Muslim religious warriors) Captures Anatolia (Asia Minor) with light cavalry and volunteer infantry n In Balkans, forced Christian families to surrender young boys to military service n n Became exceptional Janissaries n Mehmed II (the Conqueror) r. 1451 -1481 CE n Renamed Constantinople, Istanbul n Suleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520 -1566 CE) n Expanded into Asia and Europe n Developed a naval power

The Safavid Empire n Empire called Safavid, after Safi al-Din (1252 -1334) n Ismail young military leader, r. 1501 -1524 n Orphaned, parents killed by enemies n Proclaims official religion of realm Twelver Shiism n n n Twelve infallible imams after Muhammad 12 th imam in hiding, ready to take power Wore distinctive red hat n ‘Abbas (1588) greatest of Shahs n Strengthened the military – use of gunpowder n Enslaved Russian youth to be trained fighters

The Mughal Empire n Zahir al-Din Muhammad (Babur), invades northern India for plunder, 1523 Gunpowder technology gives Babur advantage n Founds Mughal (Persian for Mongol) dynasty n Expands through most of Indian subcontinent n n Akbar (r. 1556 -1605): Grandson of Babur n Created centralized government n Destroyed Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar n Religiously tolerant, promoted debate between differing religions (especially Muslims and Hindus)

Other Mughal Emperors/Shahs n Jahangir (Akbar’s son) n Rebelled against and reconciled with Akbar n Fought against Sikhs (blend of Hindu & Islam) n Shah Jahan: son of Jahangir n Built the Taj Mahal (tomb for his wife) n New Capital at Dehli (heavily taxed people) n Aurangzeb: son of Jahan n Expands Mughal empire into southern India n Hostile to Hinduism n n Demolished Hindu temples, replaced with mosques Tax on Hindus to encourage conversion

Religious Diversity of Islamic Empires n Ottoman Empire: Christians, Jews n Safavid Empire: Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians n Mughal Empire: Hindus, Jains, Zoroastrians, Christians, Sikhs n Mughal Akbar most tolerant Received Jesuits politely, but resented Christian exclusivity n Enthusiastic about syncretic Sikhism, self-serving “Divine Faith” n

The Ming and Qing Dynasties

The Ming Dynasty (1368 -1644) n Ming (“Brilliant”) dynasty comes to power after Mongol Yuan dynasty driven out n Founded by Emperor Hongwu (r. 1368 -1398) n Used traveling officials called Mandarins and large number of eunuchs to maintain control n Emperor Yongle (r. 1403 -1424) experiments with sea expeditions, moves capital north to Beijing to deter Mongol attacks n Ming emperors encourage abandonment of Mongol names, dress n n Support study of Confucian classics Civil service examinations renewed

The Great Wall of China n Origins before 4 th century BCE, ruins from Qin dynasty in 3 rd century BCE n Rebuilt under Ming rule, 15 th-16 th centuries n n 1, 550 miles, 33 -49 feet high Guard towers; Room for housing soldiers

Ming Decline and Collapse n Decline n 16 th century maritime pirates harm coastal trade n Navy, government unable to respond effectively n Emperors secluded in Forbidden City, palace compound in Beijing n Emperor Wanli (r. 1572 -1620) abandons imperial activity to eunuchs n Collapse n Rebels take Beijing in 1644 n Manchu fighters enter from the north and retake city n Manchus refuse to allow reestablishment of Ming

The Qing Dynasty (1644 -1911) n Manchus originally pastoral nomads, north of Great Wall n Chieftain Nurhaci (r. 1616 -1626) unifies tribes into state, develops laws, military n Establishes control over Korea, Mongolia, China War with Ming loyalists to 1680 n Support from many Chinese, fed up with Ming corruption n n Manchus forbid intermarriage, study of Manchu language by Chinese, force Manchu hairstyles as sign of loyalty

Qing Emperors n Kangxi (r. 1661 -1722) n n Confucian scholar, poet Military conquests: island of Taiwan, Tibet, central Asia n Emperor Qianlong (r. 1736 -1795) n n n Expands territory Height of Qing dynasty Great prosperity, tax collection cancelled on several occasions n “Son of Heaven” – quasi-divine emperors n n Hundreds of concubines; thousands of eunuchs Clothing designs and name characters forbidden to the rest of the population

Qing Culture n Scholar bureaucrats n Intense Civil Service Exams – open to anyone (men) n Confucian classics, calligraphy, history n Three-days of uninterrupted examinations n Literacy Rates improved n Opportunity for greater social mobility n Family and Gender Relations n Filial Piety was understood as child’s duty n Eldest son was honored above the rest n Footbinding was aesthetic and class based

Chinese Trade during Ming and Qing n Was once one of the greatest in the world n Stagnated during the 16 th to 20 th century n Government placed restrictions on technological advancements – fear of social instability n Maintained trade in SE Asia and some w/ the Dutch n Imported very little – was paid with silver from Americas n Exports included: silk, porcelain, tea, spices

Neo-Confucianism and Christianity n Neo-Confucianism: version of Confucian thought promoted by Zhu Xi (1130 -1200 CE) n n Confucian morality with Buddhist logic Education at various levels promoted n Christianity n Nestorians and Roman Catholics had a presence, but were never exclusive n Jesuit, Matteo Ricci, attempted to convert Emperor Wanli – brought some western technology

Medieval Japan and Korea

Japan’s Warrior Society n 12 th c. CE – government had lost power - local clans began to fight for control n Shoguns rule Japan, 12 th-16 th centuries n n n Large landholders with private armies (samurai) Emperor merely a figurehead Constant civil war: 16 th century sengoku, “country at war” n Control of Daimyo (Great Names) n Approx. 260 independent territorial lords n Shogun requires leaders alt. attendance (every other year) n Beginning 1630 s, shoguns restrict foreign relations

Tokugawa Shogunate n Tokugawa Ieyasu (r. 1600 -1616) est. military govt. n Bakufu: “tent government” – pyramid hierarchy n Establishes Tokugawa dynasty (1600 -1867) n Relations with the West n Increased trade with Europeans (esp. Portuguese) n By 1650 allowed only trade with the Dutch n Feudal Culture n Haiku poetry – 3 lines, 17 syllables n Kabuki drama – could last all day (stylized dance & song)