Chapter 15- The Muslim Empires

Chapter 15- The Muslim Empires

Ottoman Empire

Turks- groups from central Asia, spread west 9th-11th centuries

Seljuk Turks took over Abbasid caliphate, enemies of Byzantines

Ottoman Turks- Osman rewarded with land after fighting Mongols, Anatolian Peninsula

Geographic advantage- Byzantines, Muslims Expansion- Balkans, Slavs

Ottoman Empire

Janissaries- elite troops, allegiance to sultan Use of new weapons, firearms Mehmet II – Constantinople 1453 Continued expansion- Safavids, Mamluks

(Meso and Egypt) North Africa Emperor Selim claimed caliph Locals allowed to govern, trade, piracy

Ottoman Empire

Suleyman the Magnificent- advancement into Europe (Danube, Hungary, Austria), control of western Med Sea

Europeans could not ignore and treated Turks like other countries- alliances, trade

New try to advance met by alliance of Europeans, defeat (Vienna)

Slow decline of Ottoman power

Ottoman Rule

Sultan- supreme authority Learned/adapted Byzantine and Persian

customs Problems with succession Topkapi Palace- Istanbul, center of power Harem- elite group, queen mother Not all about sex, political power

Ottoman Rule

Imperial council- vizier Bureaucracy- merit Similar to fief holdings, feudalism Sunni Muslims- generally tolerant of others

unless seen as a threat Non- Muslims paid head tax, conversions Millet- religious group, responsible for

behavior, taxation, education, justice, welfare

Ottoman Rule

Women- more freedoms than elsewhere, divorce, property

Decline came after Suleyman- son Selim II (“drunken sultan”)

Internal dissention, corruption, constant war decreased treasury

Influence of Western culture, materialism

Ottoman Art

Pottery, rugs, silk, arms, jewelry Architecture most important Open floor plan (Hagia Sophia), domes,

minarets, windows Decorations- mosaics, bright colors,

geometric designs Rugs, silks

Safavids

After Tamerlane (Mongol) decline- chaos Founded by Shah Ismail- ancestor to Ali Controlled Iraq, Iran, Baghdad Conflict with Ottoman Turks Copied Janissaries, military from Ottomans Abbas the Great- strengthen, stabilize

dynasty

Safavids

Internal problems- increase in power of Shi’ias, decrease in religious orthodoxy

Women lost rights, “behind the veil” Others took advantage of weaknesses and

attacked, rulers fled Brief restoration- battle with Mughals in India Mixed population of people, used religion to

unify

Safavids

Shah- political and religious leader, Shi’a power

Used foreigners in gov’t to avoid competition Directly involved in economy- check up on

locals, no direct contact with Europe, limited trade

Capital- Isfahan, architecture, blue tiles Silk, painting

Mughals

Unification of subcontinent of India- under Islamic foreigners

Influence of Europeans- decline Founder was Babul (Mongol descendent) Weapons, cavalry- northern India Son chased out but aided by Safavids to

return to power Akbar- peak of power, “gunpowder empire”

Mughals

Akbar- took steps to reconcile different religions, tolerance

Married to Hindu, learned of Christianity, classical Indian ideas, hostility to Islam

Divine Faith- combination of religions with control by emperor

Not embraced by many people, Hindus given more power/jobs

Mughals

Tolerance in legal system- Hindus not made to pay head tax, follow own laws

Overall time of peace and prosperity Strong father- weak son Brief resurgance- Shah Jahan Taj Mahal- built in memory of wife, expensive Aurangzeb- controversial (ex. elimination of

sati)

Mughals

Reversed religious tolerance, revolts Portuguese monopoly of trade England- remained present as Mughal power

declined, able to exert influence- Ft William Dutch/French attracted to trade in area Power of British East India company- conflict

with gov’t, major step in English dominance

Mughals

Money made was sent back to England and weakened local trade

British slowly took over and enforced own rules and laws

Locals unable to mount significant challenge to British

Real influence of Mughals on life of Indians is hard to tell- women, Hindus

Mughals

Time of synthesis- Islamic, Persian, native Indian art and culture- architecture

Taj Mahal, Red Fort Painting- now on paper Imitation of European art Printing not available until end of Mughals Persian- poetry, language