CHAPTER 21: MUSLIM EMPIRES Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal dynasties

“Gunpowder empires” - similarities Islamic Centralized government Sultan - Ottoman Shah - Safavid Emperor - Mughal Bureaucracies managed the empires (Ottoman bureaucracy was the most extensive)

They existed at around the same time – Suleiman (Ottoman), Abbas I (Safavid), Akbar (Mughal) were the rulers at the height of each empire and were contemporaries. Warrior aristocrats were awarded land and peasants for support of leader

Weapons: cannons and muskets were the key for these empires’ successes

Each had slavery as an institution non-Muslims were slaves the status of slaves varied widely Concubines of India

Leaders patronized the arts Example: Architecture huge focus of these leaders’ energies incorporated Islamic elements Istanbul: Sulimaniye mosque

Dehli: Red Fort

Taj Mahal

Muslim: domes, arches, minarets; Hindu: love of ornament

Safavid: Shah Mosque (note the blue tiles)

Religious tolerance Government positions were available to outsiders and non- Muslims Ottoman empire Janissaries Devshirme Russian army slave boys in the Safavid dynasty Conquering Southeastern Europe gave Ottomans a new resource– Christian prisoners; BUT Early Janissaries not allowed to marry, Ottomans needed to replenish their numbers; New system: “Devshirme” - Conquered Christian territories had children levies, Christian villages had to give up a certain number of male children to become Janissaries

Dhimmi Millets Overall, the Ottoman empire was more religiously tolerant than other early modern societies Millets: refers to the separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities (Muslim Sharia, Christian Canon law and Jewish Halakha law abiding) were allowed to rule themselves under their own system.

Religious intolerance Religious minorities were persecuted at times e.g. Sikhs in Mughal empire Non-Muslims paid higher taxes Missionary efforts and reforms aimed at religious nonconformists

Differences and conflicts The split between Sunni and Shi’a traditions of Islam intensified Safavid used Shiism to legitimize their rule Day of Ashura: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/shiite-muslims- mark-day-of-ashura/2011/12/05/gIQAa8PTWO_gallery.html#photo=1 Ottoman Sunnis frequently conflicted with Shi’a Safavids

Dark green: Shi’a populations today

Similar factors leading to decline Stretched too thin Succession issues Corrupt and/or inept leaders Taxation and poor treatment of peasants  revolts and rebellions

LAND BASED EMPIRES VS. SEA BASED EMPIRES C

Land Based Sea Based Self-defense extremely important Examples? Ottoman, Russian, Mughal, Ming Relatively Large Expensive Focused on agriculture and not industry Many were located in arid & uninhabitable areas Involved in forced labor Power was centralized Largest administrative and economic systems from 1500 and 1800, because they were more of a threat to each other Few strategic concerns Examples? Spain, Portugal, England Relatively Small Self-sufficient Settled in in profitable areas Involved in forced labor Power “divided” amongst lands Benefited from private investors or joint-stock companies