ISLAMIC GUNPOWDER

EMPIRES

Reasons for Rise Reasons for fall

DO NOW: RISE AND FALL OF EMPIRES

AGE OF GUNPOWDER EMPIRES 1450 – 1800

CHANGED THE BALANCE OF POWER

This term applies to a number of states, all of which rapidly expanded during the late 15th and over the entire 16th century. Most significant were Portugal, Spain, the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid Empire, and the Mughal Empire but also included England, France, Tokugawa (Japan), Romanov Russia, and Ming/Manchu (Qing) China

THE ISLAMIC EMPIRES 1500-1800

Three Islamic Empires dominate from southern Europe to Northern India from 1500-1800

Ottoman Empire (Balkans, Middle East, North Africa, & Eastern Europe)

Safavid Empire (Persia); Shia Islam

Mughal Empire (Northern India)-had lasting Islamic cultural impact

Religion (of the rulers at least…)All three Islamic empires were military creations

GoverningAutocratic: emperors imposed their will on the state

Ongoing problems with royal succession Ottoman rulers legally killed brothers after taking the throne

Influence of Royal and Upper-Class WomenHaremHarem politics: women often influenced policies, selections

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Founded in 1289 by Osman Later Expand into outer

regions of Byzantine Empire Successful b/c of gunpowder in

early sieges Use of Janissary Corps

Christian troops raised by Ottomans Were slaves, but paid well Provided for by Gov – Loyal Gunpowder weapons

14th-15th centuries: Expand into South Eastern Europe

1453: Conquer Constantinople Under the leadership of

Mehmed II (r. 1451-1481) Absolute monarchy;

centralized state

RISE OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Sultans control politics and economy

Promoted religious toleration to “People of the Books”

Separate themselves from the masses

Sultans will promote cultural heritage and development Architecture Coffeehouses

POLITICS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Four Main Social Groups:Men of the penMen of the swordMen of negotiationsMen of husbandry

Social Mobility becomes more rigid over time

Women had no rights aside from tradition, class, husbands’ wishes

OTTOMAN SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Millet System: Different communities based on religion throughout the empire

Each millet was headed by its own religious dignitary

Advised sultan on affairs in the community Was punished by sultan for problems of the community

In the millet system each community was responsible for

Taxes Education Legal Matters: Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance

THE OTTOMAN MILLET SYSTEM

Empire at its height under Suleyman Reigned 1520-1566 Conquered lands in Europe, Asia, Africa Syria, modern-day Israel, Egypt Hungary, Croatia, Rumania Siege of Vienna (Austria) in 1529 failed

Built powerful navy to rule Mediterranean

Encouraged development of arts Beautified Constantinople with mosques

Empire began a slow decline after Suleyman

SULEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT

WHAT WERE THE CAUSES OF OTTOMAN DECLINE IN THE 17TH

CENTURY?

Reached limits of expansive power

early on

Too large to be maintained

High taxes on peasantscorruption of govt. officials & weak

rulers Rebellions

Declining position of women

Math and Astronomy Indian System (0-9) Algebra Maps Sunrise/sunset times

Physics in Chemistry Optics Alchemy

Biology and Medicine Opened body for study Hospitals (Free)

Medicine Kept records Trained physicians Medical Encyclopedias TOOK GREEK

KNOWLEDGE FORWARD – RENAISSACNE

ACHIEVEMENTS OF MUSLIM EMPIRES

SAFAVID PERSIA(1501-1736)

Founder: Shah Ismail (r. 1501-1524)

Conquers much of modern-day Iran and Iraq

Title “Shah” was originally used by ancient Persian dynasties

Shi’a Islam Religiously

intolerant – forced conversion

Tries to convert Sunni Muslims in Ottoman Empire

ORIGINS OF THE SAFAVID EMPIRE

Greatest of all Safavid leadersWent to war with Ottoman

Empire to regain territories lost in earlier battles Safavids fail at this effort BUT,

they sign a peace treaty with the Ottomans (1612) and regain some territory

Modernized militaryMade Alliances with Europe Invited European merchants into

countryCreated strong bureaucracy

SHAH ABBAS THE GREAT(R. 1588-1629)

SOCIETY

Traditional Social Structure

Women are forced to wear the veil and live in seclusion

Young boys kidnapped and enslaved (like Janissaries)

Strong emphasis on artisans, engineers and merchants

ECONOMY/CULTURE

Main Exports: Silk items and Persian rugs

Government invests money in cultural achievements Isfahan (capital) Architecture (City

planning; mosques) Literature, poetry and

music

SAFAVID SOCIETY AND ECONOMY/CULTURE

Leaders kept in seclusion from the people

Inept leadershipInvaded by nomadic tribes in 1722Gets caught in the middle of many territorial and political battles

DECLINE OF THE SAFAVID EMPIRE

THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

Zahir al-Din Muhammad (Babur) invaded northern India in 1523

Descendant of Chinggis Khan Conquered Delhi in 1526

Controlled empire extending from Afghanistan to most of India

Mughal Empire expanded under Akbar the Great (r. 1556-1605)

Established Mughal (“Mongol”) Dynasty Ruled with absolute powerEstablished a centralized government Took personal power

Expanded empire into southern India Tolerant of many religionsTried to reduce tensions between Hindus and Muslims Encouraged “Divine Faith”

which focused on the emperor

THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

Empire reached peak under Aurangzeb (r. 1659-1707)Expanded Mughal Empire to its greatest extentAlmost all of India except southern tipDid not follow Akbar’s policy of toleration

Imposed Islam on empire Destroyed Hindu temples

Taxed HindusCaused further resentment among Hindus

Akbar’s tolerant policies helped unify the empire.A conflict of cultures led to the end of this empire,

but resulted in a culture unique to the Mughal Empire.

Cultures that blended in the empire included Muslims

Hindus

Persians Indians

MUGHAL CULTURE

After Akbar needed reforms ignored

Government bureaucracy corrupt

Army behind in weaponry & tactics technology too many

building projects

Less religious tolerance Empire becomes too large internal

rebellions

Rulers extravagant & pleasure seeking

FAILURE OF MUGHAL DYNASTY

SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

BETWEEN ISLAMIC GUNPOWDER EMPIRES

WHAT WERE THE SIMILARITIES &

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE THREE

MUSLIM EMPIRES?

OTTOMAN-Anatolia Peninsula, Europe & Nth Africa-religious fervor & zeal for Islamicconversion-Sunni Muslim

SAFAVID-Persia (Iran)-religious fervor & zealfor Islamic conversion-mostly Muslim-Shi’ia (Shiite)Muslim

MUGHAL-Northern India-rule pre-dominantlynon-Muslim population

CONTINUITIES-origins in in Turkic nomadic raiders of Central Asia based on military conquest-effective use of firearms and siege warfare – “Gunpowder Empires”-ruled by a succession of absolute monarchs

DIFFERENCES-Sunni/Shi’ia enmity (hatred) meant warring over territory & persecuting adherents of rival brand of Islam- leads to varying religious practices, legal codes & social organization

succession problems

imperial central power weakens

failure to adapt Western military & scientific advances

rulers better at conquests than administration

rulers too interested in pleasure seeking

too much building

peasants not taken care of-taxes

COMMON WEAKNESSES

Sponsored arts and public works Golden Age of Islamic art, architecture Mosques, palaces, schools, hospitals, caravanserais

Istanbul Ottoman capital, a bustling city of a million people Topkapi palace housed government, sultan's residence Suleyman blended Islamic, Byzantine architecture

Isfahan Safavid capital The "queen of Persian cities“ The central mosque is a wonder of architecture

Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal capital, created by Akbar Combined Islamic style with Indian elements Site abandoned because of bad water supply Taj Mahal, exquisite example of Mughal architecture

CULTURE