Ottoman Rule

• Labeled- gunpowder empire– Formed by outside conquerors who

unified after conquering– Success based on mastery of fire arms

• Sultan- head of Ottoman system– Position hereditary– Not necessarily to eldest son– Led to struggles for power

• Harem- “sacred place” sultans private quarters

• Sultan controlled- bureaucracy w/ imperial council– Grand Vizier- chief minister, led

meetings

Topkapi Divan; center area for grand vizier; Sultan behind screen

 

• Ottomans were – Sunni Muslims– Sultans claimed title caliph– Resp- guiding flock & maintaining Islamic law

• Ulema- sultan’s religious advisors– Administered legal system & school for

education of Muslims– Islamic law applied to all Muslims in empire– Tolerant of non-Muslims

• Non-Muslims- paid a tax– Allowed to practice own religion

Religion in the Ottoman World

Ottoman Society

• Subjects divided by occupation– Ruling class top of society– 4 occupation groups 1. merchants- just

below ruling class in status2. artisans- org. by

craft3. peasants-farmed

land4. pastoral-sep. group

w/ own laws• Women somewhat better off than other Muslim

societies– Allowed to own/ inherit property– Couldn’t be forced to marry

Problems in Ottoman Empire

• Began during Suleyman the Mag.’s rule– Succeeded by Selim II, his only

surviving son• 1699 began to lose some

territory• Local officials grew corrupt,

taxes• Wars emptied the treasury• Western ideas spread through

Empire

Ottoman Art

• Produced pottery, rugs, silk, textiles, jewelry, arms & armor

• Greatest contribution – architecture (especially mosques) – Sinan greatest Ottoman architect– Mosques topped dome

• Framed with 4 towers (minarets)

– Flourishing textile & rug industry

Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent

The Rule of Safavids

• Rise of Safavid Dynasty – Early 15th C- area from Persia into central Asia fell

into anarchy– Safavids- took control at beginning of 16th C

• Ardent (devoted)- Shiites• Founded by- Shah Ismail• 1501- Ismail seize Iran & Iraq• Called self- Shah (King)• 1508- killed Sunnis when he conquered Baghdad

• Shah Abbas- ruled from 1588-1629– Safavids- reached high point under his rule– Early 17th C- moved against Ottoman to

regain territories– 1629- Abbas dies (rulers that followed weak)– Shiites began to Inc their influence in gov’t

and society at large• Pressure to conform to Shiite beliefs• Women lost many freedoms

Shah

Gov’t workers (bureaucracy)

&

Landed Elite

Common People

• Pol & Soc Structure– Shah direct successor of Muhammad– Controlled power of aristocracy– Gov’t positions merit

• Safavid Culture– 1588-1629 rule of Shah Abbas (golden age in

arts)– Capital Isfahan was grand city– Silk weaving new technique brilliant colors

• Carpet weaving encouraged by demand by West

Sister weaving carpets in Iran

Modern Weaving Machine