The Ottoman Empire

THE OTTOMANS… Blended old and new Moral-religious and legal advances Embraced and utilized cultural diversity

The Origin of the “Ottomans” “Ottoman” is a Europeanized form of a Turkish name– Osman I, a ghazi or Holy warrior who forged strategic alliances and conquered territories in Western Anatolia. He is known as the founder and the Empire’s first Sultan.

Osman I (reigned 1299–1326) Osman was a “ghazi” or warrior, one of many who led bands of Seljuk Turks and other Central Asian warriors (defeated by the Mongols to the East) to claim territory controlled by the weakening Byzantine Empire (to the West) for Islam.

Bursa, the First Ottoman Capital (founded 1299)

Early Expansion Osman’s son, Sultan Orhan I created a highly effective standing army (unique in the region) and began campaigns to East and West. Imperial territory expanded swiftly in Anatolia and the Balkans, then south into the Levant.

The Ottoman Balkans

Edirne, the Second Ottoman Capital (conquered 1363)

Edirne, the Second Ottoman Capital (conquered 1363)

Istanbul,* the Third Ottoman Capital (conquered 1453 – first attempt 1420)

The Fall of Constantinople In 1453, the Ottomans finally conquered Constantinople, all that remained of the once-great Byzantine Empire— “Istanbul” is an Turkified version of the Greek word polis, meaning city. Constantinople was such a big deal that in those days it was usually called, quite simply, The City.

The Fall of Constantinople, Cont’d

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)

Hagia Sophia Built by (Eastern Roman) Emperor Justinian in 537 AD on site of Byzantium’s former acropolis Largest church in the world at that time, and remained so for 1,000 years Construction of large, flat dome was unprecedented Sultan Fetih Mehmet declared it a mosque in 1453 AD All subsequent Ottoman Sultans ascended the throne in this building

Hagia Sophia (Haya Sofya) Hybrid of old and new Respect for and preservation of pre-Ottoman heritage Church  Mosque Existing iconography covered over, not destroyed International symbol of Byzantium becomes symbol of Sultan’s power

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

The Golden Age

The Golden Age In the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire was a respected and leading European power. WHY? Territorial conquest and military might Strategic location on land and sea trade routes Religious tolerance Ie, invited settlement of exiled Iberian Jews – Spain’s loss became Ottoman gain Cultural riches Arab (N Africa/ Iraq/ Gulf), Persian, Jewish, Byzantine, Venetian, Slavic exchanges Promotion of science, art, legal, social, charitable institutions

Suleiman I (reigned 1520-1566) “Suleiman the Magnificent” in Europe “Suleiman the Lawgiver” to the Ottomans

THE MAGNIFICENT CENTURY

Sultan Suleiman Hürrem Sultan Mahidevran Sultan Nebahat Çehre

OTTOMAN ART Miniature painting Carpets Pottery Tiles Architecture

OTTOMAN ART

OTTOMAN ART

OTTOMAN ART

Mimar Sinan or Sinan the Architect (b. 1490 – d.1588 ) Son of stonemason Technical training in military engineering- Istanbul Became a successful Janissary commander Appointed chief royal architect at age 50 (remained so for nearly 50 years!) Over 300 works

Suleimaniye Mosque in Istanbul

(Suleimaniye Mosque) By Photo: Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24067043

Selimiye Mosque in Edirne

Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem Built 687-692 CE, Restored by Mimar Sinan 900 years later

Evliya Çelebi, Author/ Chronicler (b. 1611—d. 1682) Family from Kutahya Considered an “Ottoman Turk” and an Istanbulu Trained by the ulema of the Ottoman Court A hafiz (studied the Quran and could recite by memory) Joined Sultan, governors, Janissaries on military campaigns Traveled the Empire over 40 years

400th birthday in 2011 – UNESCO’s Man of the Year

The Seyahatname 10-volume collection Çelebi’s travel writings from Ottoman lands: Istanbul and surrounding areas (1630) Anatolia, the Caucasus, Azerbaijan, Crete (1640) Syria, Palestine, Armenia, Rumelia/ European Balkans (1648) Eastern Anatolia, Iraq, and Iran (1655) Russia and the Balkans (1656) Military Campaigns in Hungary (1663/64) Austria, the Crimea, and the Caucasus for the 2nd time (1664) Greece and then the Crimea and Rumelia for the 2nd time (1667–1670) The Hajj to Mecca (1671) Egypt and the Sudan (1672)

The Seyahatname Urban landscapes: Number of mosques and prayer nooks, churches, synagogues, fountains, schools, hospitals, soup kitchens, hamams (bathhouses), houses (and what type of houses), number of inhabitants, salaried administrators, judges Vakıfs: endowments from Sultans, governors, military commanders, merchants and wealthy families supporting social and cultural institutions Countryside: Great love of nature, animals apparent Dreamscapes and imaginary landscapes: Retelling of dreams, legends, religious stories from the Quran and hadith

Imperial Decline (Post-1687?) Increased conservativism, Ineffective, de-centralized Imperial rule; unchecked corruption; rebellious governors Rising importance of ethnic nationalism, identity; Increased emphasis on “difference” (ie Muslim and non-Muslim hamams, rules of dress- styles and colors worn)

Imperial Decline (Post-1687?) Rising economic and political importance of other European powers New trade routes Global exploration and colonization Profitability of slave trade, extraction economies

Resources Turkish Cultural Foundation (TCF) Mütheşem Yüzyıl TV series Ottoman culture and society, “Lifestyle” Architecture, Fine arts, Traditional arts, Ceramics, Textiles, Carpets, Culinary arts, Music, Performing arts, Literature, Philosophy, Military, Nature Mütheşem Yüzyıl TV series YouTube: search for “Magnificent Century Episode 1 (2,3…) – English Subtitles” Websites/ blogs Evliya Çelebi Culture Routes Society (cultureroutesinturkey.com) Online exhibition on Euro-Ottoman exchange (thebookoftravels.org)