Chapter 28
The Islamic Empires
Things to take notice of
▪ Global commercialization/economy
▪ Syncretic religious practices (or lack thereof)
▪ Ways political power is used to legitimize rule
▪ Ways religious ideas are used to legitimize rule
▪ Ottoman treatment of non-muslim subjects
▪ Ottoman devshirme
▪ Ottoman and Mughal land empires
The Ottoman Empire
•
•
•
•
Political
Military
Social
Religious
History of the Ottomans
▪ Turkish Nomadic tribes
▪ Osman Bey
▪ Bursa
▪ Devshirme
▪ Constantinople
▪ World War I
Ottoman Military
▪ Devshirme
– Janissaries
▪ Capture of Constantinople
1453
– Mehmed II (1451-1481)
▪ Selim (the grim) (1512-1520)
– Occupied Syria & Egypt
▪ Suleyman the
(lawgiver/magnificent)
– Baghdad, to Vienna
– Barbarossa Pasha
Ottoman Political Organization
▪ Sultan
– Unbroken succession 12891923
▪ Fratricide
▪ Harem system
– Vizier’s
– Tightly centralized
▪ Early years – princes ruled
provinces
▪ Later years – princes were
eliminated all rule centralized
– Absolute monarchy
Ottoman Social Structures
▪ Power to the Harem (you go
girl!)
– Hurrem Sultana (Roxelana)
▪ Codification of laws
– Suleyman Kanuni
▪ Columbian exchange
– Tobacco, coffee
– Food not as important
▪ Resulted in less population
growth
Ottoman Religion
▪ Ghazi
▪ Sufi’s
▪ Rise of conservatism
– Wahhabi movement
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Checking For Understanding
▪ Using whiteboards answer briefly:
– Ottoman religion – syncretic? Or no?
– Did the Ottomans embrace worldwide trade?
– What evidence supports your position?
– What practice ensured political power for the most powerful heir to
the sultan?
– What was the religious concept was used to gain and hold political
power for the Ottomans?
– What name was given to the Ottoman standing army?
– What policy did the Ottomans use for non-muslims?
– What group/empire/people were the greatest enemies of the
Ottomans?
The Mughals - muahahaha
• Political power
• Religion
• Military
Mughal Empire 1504-1707
▪ Babur (the tiger) died 1530
▪ Akbar – tight, centralized rule
– Religiously tolerant
▪ Aurangzeb (1659-1707)
– Imprisoned Jahan
– 1668 East India company
Mughal religion
▪ Islamic minority ruling over a
Hindu majority
▪ Akbar
– Divine faith (emperor based)
▪ Syncretic blend of Christianity,
Judaism, Hinduism, Islam
▪ Consolidated rule
▪ Banned slavery
▪ Promoted human rights
▪ So, what do you think? Is this a
new syncretic religion, or political
consolidation using a religious
guise?
Checking For Understanding
▪ Using whiteboards answer briefly:
– Mughal religion – syncretic? Or no?
– Did the Mughals embrace worldwide trade?
– What evidence supports your position?
–
–
–
–
What practice(s) or concept(s) ensured political control?
Did the Mughals maintain a standing army?
How did the Mughals treat non-muslims?
What group/empire/people were the greatest enemies of the
Mughals?
Safavid
Empire
Political
Military
Social
Religion
Safavid Empire (1501 – 1736)
▪ Shah Ismail ( R.1501-1524)
– Twelver Shiism (Shiite)
▪ Shah Abbas the Great (R.15881629)
– Slave army
– European alliances
– Expansionist military policies
▪ Persian ruling style
▪ Isfahan – capital city
Safavid Religion
▪ Twelver Shiism
▪ Allowed outlying Christian and
Jewish communities (dhimmi)
▪ "In the 10th century," says Vali
Nasr, "the 12th Shiite Imam
went into occultation. Shiites
believe God took him into
hiding, and he will come back
at the end of time. He is known
as the Mahdi or the messiah.
So in many ways the Shiites,
much like Jews or Christians,
are looking for the coming of
the Messiah."
Ottoman/Safavid 2 centuries of Conflict
Ottomans
Safavids
▪ Sunni
▪ Shia
▪ Janissaries
▪ Qizilbash
▪ Firearm/cannon technology
▪ Traditional sword technology
Checking For Understanding
▪ Using whiteboards answer briefly:
– Safavid religion – syncretic? Or no?
– Did the Safavid’s embrace worldwide trade?
– What evidence supports your position?
– What was the religious concept was used to gain and hold political
power for the Safavid’s?
– What name was given to the Safavid standing army?
– What policy did the Safavid’s use for non-muslims?
– What group/empire/people were the greatest enemies of the
Safavid’s?