Chapter 21 Ottomans, Safavids, Mughals

The Ottomans Collapse of Seljuk Turks by Mongols – 1243 – opened gate for Ottomans Mongols never directly ruled Anatolia Began to expand – surrounded Constantinople – finally conquered 1453 Expanded into Europe, Egypt, Syria

The Ottomans Cavalry – warrior aristocracy Infantry – janissaries – forced conscription –Controlled artillery and firearms –Their growing influence leads to decline of the aristocratic cavalry

The Ottomans Started to restore Constantinople –Converted the Hagia Sophia into a mosque –Many mosques built – the Suleymaniye Mosque –Gardens, aqueducts

The Ottomans Politics –Headed by a Sultan – grew more apart from subjects as empire grew –Administrated by a grand vizier –Spoke Persian Society –Large merchant and artisan classes Government regulated trade Religion –Sunni Islam

Ottoman Decline Long Able to withstand because of strength of institutions, but too large to control Built on conquest Began to rely on taxes from peasants –Peasant rebellions and abandonment led to decreased agricultural output Began to lose battles – Janissaries refused to change military technology Lost revenues from trade no longer going through Muslim ports Silver caused inflation

The Safavids Similar to Ottomans, came to power around the time of Mongol retreat –Warrior champions –Shi’a Islam Founded by Sail al-Din – sufi mystic –Followers known as Red Heads –Ismail led Safavids to victories that other leaders were unable to do

The Safavids Fought the Ottomans at the Battle of Chaldiran – Ottomans won due to weaponry –Effect was that Shi’ism would be centered in Persia and southern Iraq and no further westward

The Safavids Abbas the Great –Used slave boys from Russia as military – but educated them and converted them to Islam Similar to the Janissaries Controlled firearms

The Safavids Politics –Used Turkish at first – then Persian –Claimed descent from Ali –Education planned by the state Non-Shia Muslims pressured to convert –Supported trade, manufacturing –Built a capital at Isfahan Mosques

The Safavids Society –Warrior aristocracy –Great demand on peasants – many rebellions, abandonment – less ag –Encouraged manufacture, public works –Women subordinate Seclusion and Veiling Some fought for rights

Safavid Decline Abbas feared usurpation by one of his sons – so he killed or blinded all that could succeed him A weak grandson placed on the throne at Abbas’ death Disputes from within, Ottoman and Mughal raiders, invasion by Afghani tribes all led to end of Safavid power.

The Mughals Founded by Babur – descent from Mongols and Timur –Wanted to use India as a place for resources to regain his homeland of Ferghana –Lost – and was forced to conquer India –Son, Humayan’s rule was disputed – he was forced to flee to Persia. Began to reconquer northern India in 1545, but died falling down library steps

The Mughals Humayan’s son, Akbar, was only 13 – but proved to be a great military commander –Contemporary with Elizabeth I, Philip of Spain, Suleyman, and Abbas I. –Workaholic, patronized the arts, social reforms, created a religion (Din-i-ilahi), illiterate –Expanded into north and central India – encouraged intermarriage, ended the jizya, promoted Hindus, and ordered Muslims to respect cows.

The Mughals Akbar’s Social Progress –Tried to establish living quarters for homeless –Regulate the consumption of alcohol –Encouraged widow remarriage –Discouraged child marriage –Outlawed sati –Provided relief for women in purdah (seclusion).

Mughal India Destination for European traders Leaders after Akbar not so interested in expansion – would rather participate in court ceremonies and attend events Best remembered for arts –Taj Mahal (Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal’s tomb).

Women At court, women’s lives improved Rest of society –Child marriage increased – age limit lowered (9 yrs) –Widow remarriage died out –Seclusion increased –Muslim women rarely left unveiled –Sati increased

Mughal Decline Bureaucracy and military corrupt Artistic buildings paid for by masses Aurangzeb tried to stem decline by expansion –Further drained the treasury –Allowed for peasant uprisings, incursions from Persia and Afghan tribes –Hurt the religious peace Akbar had established Non Muslims fewer posts Forbade building of new Hindu temples, reinstated jizya

Mughal Decline Rebellions by Marattas (western India) lost territory to government New sects like the Sikhs (northwestern India) – strained resources –Originally tried to bridge differences between Hindus and Muslims – persecution led them to be staunchly anti-Muslim