The Ottoman Empire Crest of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Government SULTAN Grand Vizier Local Administrators & Military Divan of Pashas (Cabinet of top ministers) Regional Governors (Beys) Heads of Individual Religious Millets Local Administrators & Military Muslims Jews Christians Landowners / Tax Collectors
Sultan Ruled for life Absolute power Divine-right ruler Claims to be caliph = leader of Islam
Sultan Lives in Topkapi Palace (1450s-1850s) harem: section of Topkapi Palace where sultan lives AND name of group of women who serve as sultan’s concubines
Sultan Protected by loyal soldiers called the janissary Janissary: recruited from Christian home converted to Islam trained to become soldiers and government ministers
Suleyman I “The Magnificent” (1520-1566) Led OE to strongest point Rules for 46 years
Suleyman I “The Conqueror” Doubles size of OE Farthest push into Europe by OE - adding parts of Hungary and Austria Adds more of Middle East - gaining parts of Persia and Arabia Extends OE into northern Africa
Suleyman I “The Lawgiver” Reconstructed Ottoman system of law Creates unified code of law for entire OE Bases law on Koran and ideals of Islam
Suleyman I “The Artist” Culturally enriches OE Promotes construction of mosques, monuments, schools,etc Sinan = Suleyman’s chief architect and engineer; designs hundreds of buildings…
Suleymanyie Mosque Constructed 1558 2nd largest mosque in Istanbul
Selimiye Mosque Built 1575 Located in Edirne
Suleyman I “Suleyman the Wise” Organizes meritocracy - appoints ministers based on talent, not birth eg: Ibrahim Pasha (slave who becomes grand vizier) Hayreddin Barbarossa (naval commander)
Suleyman I “Suleyman the tolerant” Does not force non-Muslims to convert to Islam Allows non-Muslims to freely worship in millets Millets: Non-Muslim communities were loyal to sultan but were ruled by own religious leaders Included: Jews, Armenians, Orthodox Christians, others
Suleyman I “Suleyman the Crazy” Executes best friend Ibrahim Pasha Executes son Mustapha Supports son Selim II as successor Too influenced by his wife, Roxalana?