The Gunpowder Empires of the Middle East: Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal Comparative Empires The Gunpowder Empires of the Middle East: Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal

Gunpowder: Varying degrees of impact New gunpowder weapons had some impact in most parts of the inhabited world, but each place reacted differently. In China & Japan, for example, guns were allowed minimal influence China: used for war, but seen as an unclean career choice Japan: used kept themselves isolated, but then paid a high price, in the 19th century, by being vulnerable to the West But while the West’s exploitation of gunpowder weapons enabled them to become wealthy & to dominate much of the globe, the effort cost countless lives & helped to keep Europe embroiled in war for much of modern history

The Gunpowder Empires (1400-1800) Nomadic Invasions by Mongols led to changes in Muslim world Ottomans Safavids Mughal Competition led to important political and military clashes…challenge for power

Ottoman Empire 1301-state founded by Osman (Ottoman) 1453 - fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans (Mehmed II the Conqueror) 1520-1566 - reign of Sulieman I the Magnificent 1529- first siege of Vienna – marked the end of Ottoman expansion into Europe 1571- Battle of Lepanto, first major defeat of the Ottomans by the Europeans 1683- second siege of Vienna (Often called the Battle of Vienna) 1699 - Treaty of Karlowitz, beginning of the end for the Ottomans - Austria, Poland, and Venice take major chunks of the Balkans from the Ottomans 19th Century: Sick Man of Europe 1918-1924 - collapse of the Empire (rise of the Young Turks)

Social Structure Ottoman family held power – Sultan head Personal slaves Devshirme Janissaries Social and religious administration separate. Janissaries: 30,000 conquered peoples from Christian territories Devshirme: boys taken from families, educated, converted to Islam, trained as soldiers…often a better opportunity for boys…chance to rise to government post

Suleiman the Lawgiver (AKA the Magnificent) Military leader Strong naval power Expansion ends at Vienna: 1529 Turns to domestic affairs

Decline Incapable leaders (addicted to drink, drugs and harem pleasures) Increasingly oppressive policies Peasant discontent and rebellion Naval losses – Lepanto was only the beginning! Internal conflict- many religions, many tribes, never a melting pot! Dissolved with the creation of the nation of Turkey after World War I

Safavid Persia 1334-1722

Safavid Empire Iranian origin Aligned with Shi’ite branch of Islam Persecuted on religious grounds by Ottoman Sunni Muslims Powerful army The Safavids (named after a sufi master, Shaykh Safi) forged for themselves an illustrious genealogy that goes back to Ali, and proceeded to forcibly change Iran into a Shi’ite state.

Leadership Ismai’il – brilliant warrior Red Cap army Shi’ite Islam as state religion in Iran Must convert to Shi’ism Ottomans and Safavids disagree on religious tolerance Isfahan becomes the capitol “redheads” Ismai’il: 14 years old Seized what is now Iran Shah as title Order death to anyone who does not covert Selim the Grim did the same to Shi’a in Ottoman empire

Golden Age of Safavids: 1587 Shah Abbas, or Abbas the Great Golden Age? Drew from best of the Ottoman, Persian and Arab worlds Abbas encouraged Chinese and Europeans to settle in his empire and to share their knowledge Persia became known for its carpets and began to trade more frequently with Europeans As demand increased for Persian carpets Abbas sent artists to Italy to study with Raphael to learn European design and blend it with traditional Persian designs Chinese artisans brought, collaboration gave rise to fabulous artwork, rebuild capital city of Isfanhan Carpets: local craft to national industry

Decline Incompetent leaders Tribal armies taking over area Sunni family took control!!! Killing family members to keep another from claiming power Tribal armies from Afghanistan taking over E portions of Safavid realm, Ottomans from the west Nadir Shah Afshar: Sunni

Mughal India 1556-1739 Dynasty whose founder Babur (1526-30) descended from Genghis Khan and Timur, hence the name They ruled most of India for three centuries before direct British rule was set in 1858 The period between Babur's reign and 1707, when five of his descendants, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangazeb ruled is considered the age of the Great Mughals

Mughal Expansion Most areas conquered were Hindu Akbar (r. 1556 – 1605), third Mughal Emperor was extremely tolerant of other religions Akbar was interested in spirituality; enjoyed having scholars from numerous faiths hold debates Opened government jobs to Hindu; giving the Hindu population the sense that it was a part of the ruling system Eliminated non-Muslim tax, making all subjects fiscally equal regardless of religious beliefs. At one point, Akbar even created his own religion – a synthesis of what he thought was best about Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and several other faiths. Failed! Why?

Akbar’s Successors Akbar’s successors, Jahangir, Jahan, and Aurangzeb rescinded religious tolerance Non-Muslim tax reinstated Hindus removed from government posts Revoked Hindu status as “people of the book” by 1857, India had broken up into a multitude of different states ruled through the various cultures and belief systems of the majority inhabitants, and while a Mughal Emperor still sat on the throne, the English Queen actually ruled the subcontinent through a system of divide and conquer

Architecture Taj Mahal: 20,000 workers, 22 years The Taj Mahal is the best example of Mughal architecture – a blending of Hindu, Persian, Turkish and Islamic styles. While the Taj Mahal is loved for its beauty and romantic story, the Indian people paid high taxes and suffered while their rulers lived extravagantly.

                            Taj Mahal: 20,000 workers for 22 yearsIt was built by Akbar’s great grandson, Shah Jahan, as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumataz Mahal. While these beautiful things were being built, the common people suffering Royal court in disarray Aurangzeb takes over

Gender Reform under Akbar Akbar was ahead of his time involving thoughts about position of women. Encouraged widow remarriage Discouraged child marriages Prohibited sati burning of widows Relief for women in purdah (seclusion) market days for women only

Decline Rajputs rebel! Outbreak of wars with Sikhs and Rajputs War is expensive= taxes No loyalty to leader Weakened central state, power of local lords grew Trade with Europe increases