The Ottoman Empire Toleration Tolerance vs Toleration Tolerance

The Ottoman Empire Toleration

Tolerance vs. Toleration �Tolerance as an idea, toleration as a policy �Toleration “is better understood as the accommodation of dissent in societies organized around the ideal of religious unity. ” (Parker) �Where is the Ottoman Empire on this scale?

Early Period �Ottomans fused Islamic and Turkic traditions into a unique take on Islam. �The Islamic Caliphates had ruled over diverse populations, and the Ottomans inherited these populations. �Christian generals served along the ghazis in the early campaigns.

Muslim Identity �“Public commitment to Sunni orthodoxy…” (Parker) �Jizya tax assessed on non-Muslim subjects. Religious as opposed to temporal tax. � Often paid as a group: ta’ifa and millets �Non-Muslims could not testify against Muslims in courts. �Sartorial laws �Devşirme �Shi’a

Compromise �“… ready pragmatism in dealing with subjugated people” �Letter of the law not always followed: church construction �Evasion

European Intervention �String of reverses reduced Ottoman holdings in Europe �As Muslims constituted a greater share of the population, the Ottomans began embracing the caliphate �At the same time, European strength limited actions against non-Muslim subjects � Apostasy � Protectorates � Tanzimat