CHAPTER 21 MUSLIM EMPIRES Ottoman Safavid and Mughal

CHAPTER 21: MUSLIM EMPIRES Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal dynasties

“Gunpowder empires” similarities Islamic Centralized government Sultan - Ottoman Shah - Safavid Emperor - Mughal Bureaucracies managed the empires (Ottoman bureaucracy was the most extensive)

They existed at around the same time – Suleiman (Ottoman), Abbas I (Safavid), Akbar (Mughal) were the rulers at the height of each empire and were contemporaries. Warrior aristocrats were awarded land peasants for support of leader

Weapons: cannons and muskets were the key for these empires’ successes

Each had slavery as an institution non-Muslims were slaves the status of slaves varied widely Concubines of India

Leaders patronized the arts Example: Architecture huge focus of these leaders’ energies incorporated Islamic elements Istanbul: Sulimaniye mosque

Dehli: Red Fort

Taj Mahal

Safavid: Shah Mosque (note the blue tiles)

Religious tolerance Government positions were available to outsiders and non. Muslims Ottoman empire Janissaries Devshirme Russian army slave boys in the Safavid dynasty

Dhimmi Millets Overall, the Ottoman empire was more religiously tolerant than other early modern societies

Religious intolerance Religious minorities were persecuted at times e. g. Sikhs in Mughal empire Non-Muslims paid higher taxes Missionary efforts and reforms aimed at religious nonconformists

Differences and conflicts The split between Sunni and Shi’a traditions of Islam intensified Safavid Day used Shiism to legitimize their rule of Ashura: http: //www. washingtonpost. com/world/shiite- muslims-mark-day-ofashura/2011/12/05/g. IQAa 8 PTWO_gallery. html#photo=1 Ottoman Sunnis frequently conflicted with Shi’a Safavids

Dark green: Shi’a populations today

Similar factors leading to decline Stretched too thin Succession issues Corrupt and/or inept leaders Taxation and poor treatment of peasants revolts and rebellions

LAND BASED EMPIRES VS. SEA BASED EMPIRES

Land Based Sea Based Self-defense extremely important Few strategic concerns Examples? Ottoman, Russian, Mughal, Ming Spain, Portugal, England Relatively Large Relatively Small Expensive Self-sufficient Settled in in profitable areas Involved in forced labor Power “divided” amongst lands Focused on agriculture and not industry Many were located in arid & uninhabitable areas Involved in forced labor Power was centralized Largest administrative and economic systems from 1500 and 1800, because they were more of a threat to each other Benefited from private investors or joint-stock companies