Islamic Gunpowder Empires Ottoman Safavid and Mughal Ottomans

Islamic Gunpowder Empires Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal

Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals § all were Islamic Empires, though they differed § § § in terms of the religion of their subjects all used gunpowder weapons (muskets and cannons) to defeat opponents all declined the histories of these empires and their decline set the stage for the modern Middle East (identity and conflict)… You can’t understand today’s Middle East w/o knowing these empires!!

The Ottomans § 1200 s: Turkish clans settle part of NW Anatolia (Asia Minor) and begin building an empire § call themselves “Ottomans, ” after first leader—Osman Bey § 1453: invaded Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire § Renamed it Istanbul and made it their capital

Religion § converted cathedrals like Hagia § Sophia into mosques Islamic religion as a unifying force and justification of rule § § Allowed Jews and Christians to practice their religion if they paid a special tax , but did not tolerate polytheism Millets—major religious groups allowed to establish their own communities under Ottoman rule

The Janissaries § § Devshirme (the collecting, or gathering) was a process by which Balkan Christian communities were required to hand over a quota of young boys Required to learn Turkish, usually converted to Islam, and trained for civil administration of military service in elite Janissary units Offered opportunities for advancement, though legally slaves Janissaries rise to political power weakened empire by 16 th century

§ § The Harem enclosed quarters in palace for women (emperor’s wives, concubines, eunuchs, servants) forbidden to men, though in later times son’s of sultans lived their until 16

Trade § Traded in coffee and ceramics § coffeehouses central to cultural and social life

§ § Conquest and Expansion From their original location in Asia Minor, the Ottomans spread to: The Middle East (Southwest Asia) The Balkan Peninsula (SE Europe) North Africa

Vlad the Impaler v. Mehmed II § Prince of Wallachia during Ottoman conquest of Balkans (1456 – 1462) § His father was a member of the Order of the Dragon, founded to protect Christianity in Eastern Europe § Reputation for cruelty spread, inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897)

Vlad the Impaler § At 13, sent to live as hostage § § § in Ottoman Empire Educated in Turkish, logic, etc. but resentful of imprisonment (traumatized? ) 1459 – refuses to pay tribute of 10, 000 ducats and 500 recruits for Ottoman forces Kills Turkish envoys by nailing turbans to their heads Ambushed Turkish forces Ultimately defeated

Selim I § claims he is rightful heir to the Islamic tradition under the Arab caliphs (1512) § significance—Ottoman Empire becomes center of Islamic Civilization

Suleiman I (1520 to 1566) § Nickname: “The Lawgiver” § “I, who am the sultan of § § sultans, the sovereign of sovereigns, the dispenser of crowns to the monarchs on the face of the earth. ” Acted as both sultan (political leader) and caliph (religious leader) Encouraged development of the arts golden age

Ottomans in Europe § Tried to push into Europe § § § through Hungary 1529: Ottoman siege of Vienna, Austria Europeans everywhere feared the “terror of the Turk” Plan was to then pour into weakened Holy Roman Empire Fails. But what if?

The Ottoman-Safavid Conflict (1534 -1639) § Ottoman Sunnis v. § Safavid Shia Islam (deep enduring divisions) Significance of Safavid Empire= establish Shia Islam in Persia, surrounded by hostile Sunni neighbors

1571: Battle of Lepanto § Holy League § (Spain, Italy, Knights Templar) defeat Ottoman fleet Effects: control Mediterranean, protect Rome, halt Ottoman advance into Europe

Decline § 1600 s: began to decline due to… § incompetent or corrupt bureaucrats § heirs were isolated weak, indulgent § § sultans (fought over succession to throne) lost out on new maritime trade routes (Portuguese) less tax revenue 1683: Battle of Vienna, Ottoman Turks defeated by combined HRE and Polish forces on Sept. 11

Looking Forward… § 1800 s: attempts to reform and liberalize the empire failed (tanzimat) § defeat in World War I was the final straw would last until 1922

Mughal Empire: Background § Muslim invaders from central Asia conquered Northern India by 1100 s § § § Descendants of the Mongols Set up sultanate (Muslim kingdom) in Delhi in 1206 Hindu culture survived invasion; blended with Islamic civilization

Babur’s conquest of India (1526) § original interest § § was only in looting; focus on Central Asia fierce fighter, but not motivated by religion also a musician and historian

Akbar (Babur’s grandson) § Also a great warrior and conqueror, § § § but had a mission to unite India’s diverse people Invited Muslim, Christian, and Hindu scholars to have philosophical discussions Created his own syncretic religion—“Divine Faith” – rejected by both Hindus and Muslims Eliminated tax on Hindu non-believers and allowed construction of temples Fought for greater rights for women—widow remarriage and end child marriages Outlawed sati, or the practice of high-caste widows jumping onto husband’s funeral pyres

Contributions of the Mughal Empire § Art and architecture (Taj Mahal— built by Shah Jahan as memorial to his wife)

Trade § Arrival of European trading outposts along Indian Ocean § High demand in Europe for Indian textiles influence British textile industry § Portugal, England, and the Netherlands competed for the Indian Ocean trade by establishing coastal ports on the Indian subcontinent

§ Internal decay, corruption, § § falling standard of living for workers and peasants Aurangzeb grew empire through conquest, but drained revenues and reversed Akbar’s policies of tolerance towards Hindus Sikhism—originally sought to bridge divide between Hindus and Muslims, but Muslim persecution led to it becoming an anti-Muslim movement Decline