Geographic Origins of “Gunpowder Empires” and the means to attain and retain power, compared to the Franks,

Romans, and Arabs.

By: Group with huge topic.

Ottoman Turks

Created by a tribal leader by the name of Osman. Established themselves with land given by the Seljuk rulers as thanks for driving out the Mongols.

The decline of the Seljuk empire gave way to the expansion of the Osmanli (Ottoman) Empire.

– Expansion included the use of the Janissaries and artillery pieces.

Mehmet II captured Constantinople and renamed the capital to Istanbul.

Series of military conquests netted them land in South Africa, Europe, and western Asia.

Maintain power

The Turks preferred to use local rulers to administer their conquered regions.

Let the conquered people believe in other religions, so long as they remained loyal.

Each nation established its own system of justice, set its own educational policies, and provided welfare for the needy.

Women were treated more equally.– They were able to own and inherit property.– They were permitted to divorce in certain cases.– Had considerable influence in the palace and few served

as senior officials.

Safavids

Founded by Shah Ismail, who seized much of Iran & Iraq. Baghdad was subdued seven years later.

Ismail sent preachers to Turkish tribes in the Ottoman Empire to stir up a rebellion.– Selim I of the Ottomans advanced against the

Safivids and managed to gain Tabriz.– Safavids retook Tabriz when Selim I lost control.

The rise

In 1580, The Ottomans attacked the Safavids and forced Shah Abbas I into a peace which lost a lot of Safavid territory.

Abbas I established a system similar to the Turkish Jannisaries to train administrators to replace the warriors.– Also strengthened the army with modern

weaponry.

Society

Had a mixed society (Turkish and Iranian) The Shah was declared spiritual leader of all Islam

and Shi-ism was made the state religion. There was a landed aristocracy, but it was controlled

by the Shahs, who brought aristocratic estates under control of the crown.

Appointment to senior positions in the bureaucracy was by merit and not birth.

To decrease competition between Turkish and non-Turkish elements, foreigners from neighboring countries were hired for government positions.

Mughals

Came from the mountainous regions north of the Ganges region. Founder of the dynasty was Babur, whose father descended from Tamerlane, and whose mother descended from Genghis Khan.

Babur inherited part of Tamerlane’s empire in the upland valley of the Syr Darya River.

He was driven south because of the rising power of the Uzbeks and the Safavid Dynasty.

Mughal Domination

He and his warriors seized Kabul in 1504. In 1517, crossed the Kyber Pass into India. They gained power in India by offering to help an

ailing dynasty, but then turned on them. In 1526, he captured Delhi and took over. Ackbar helped in maintaining empire.

– Eliminated jizya, which was the tax on non-muslims.– Use a different code of law for Hindus and other non-

Muslims.– Punishment for crimes was light and justice was fair.

Franks

Clovis, the founder, converted to Catholicism which gained him the support of the Roman Catholic Church.

Charlemagne expanded the empire with military expansion.– Maintained his empire with the use of counts as

the king’s chiefs representatives. Charlemagne was crowned as the Holy

Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in 800CE.

Franks, some more.

Established missi dominici (“messengers of the lord king”), which was basically two men sent to the local districts to ensure the counts were executing the king’s wishes.

Romans

Came to power with military geniuses and effective governing system for the provinces they conquered.– Installed a governor in the province they

conquered and the governor controlled all the affairs of the province

Had a well-organized army. No one was in power long enough to pose a

threat to Rome.

How they stayed in power

They let the people keep most of their customs.

They were beneficial to the societies they conquered because they facilitated trade.– Built roads and aqueducts.– They also protected the provinces. Some

countries joined Rome so they would have protection against their enemies.

Arabs

They were a Semitic speaking people of southwest Asia.

Primarily Bedouin Arabs, nomadic peoples. Jihad (holy war) was a major influence for the

expansion of their empire.– Brilliant generals and a highly motivated army

because of the belief that Muslim warriors who died in battle were guaranteed a place in the afterlife.

Remained in power

Conversion to Islam was voluntary. Islam faith united the peoples. They let the tribal leaders run their own

affairs.