Ottomans Build a Vast Empire

Setting the Stage 1300: Byzantine Empire in decline & Seljuk Turks destroyed by the Mongols Anatolia inhabited by descendants of the Turks Peoples were militaristic, loyal, and lacked a strong central power/figure

Into Byzantium Turks = militaristic culture Ghazis = warriors for Islam Followed an emir & raided the frontiers of the Byzantine empire Osman – most successful leader Followers = Ottomans Forms a small state in Anatolia Lands expanded through alliances, conquest, & payment Gunpowder = success Muskets & cannons Into Byzantium

Empire Orkhan I, Osman’s son, declared sultan 1361: Captures Adrianople = rise of an empire Rule peoples through local officials & improve living standards Muslims required to serve in the army Non-Muslims required to pay an exemption tax

Tamerlane Early 1400s – Ottoman expansion interrupted from the east Tamerlane (Timur the Lane) came from Central Asia Disabled by an arrow to the leg Burns Baghdad to the ground Defeats Ottomans at Ankara Stops & looks to China

Constantinople Mehmed I & Murad II expand empire as far as Hungary Mehmed II wanted to take Constantinople Controlled the Bosporus Strait = split of Ottoman territory 1453: Attacks the city with cannons Drags ships over land to attack from the sea Achieves victory in 7 weeks Opens city to all & renames city, Istanbul

Taking Holy Cities 1514: Selim the Grim defeats the Safavids Expands empire into North Africa Takes control of Mecca & Medina Islamic Holy Cities Conquers Cairo Intellectual center of the Muslim world

Suleyman I Rules empire to its greatest extent 1521-2: Conquers Belgrade & takes Rhodes = dominance over eastern Mediterranean Uses naval power to take coastal areas of North Africa 1526: Pushed empire to outskirts of Vienna

Suleyman created an efficient government & social structure Creates a civil & criminal law code Limited taxes & simplified bureaucracy (uses slaves) Devshirme policy Conquered Christian boys educated, converted, & trained as soldiers Creates an elite & loyal force called Janissaries The Lawgiver

Culture Freedom of worship granted to all Mainly Christians & Jews Communities treated as millets, or nations Suleyman I pushed cultural achievements = education, architecture, etc. Mosque of Suleyman Period similar to the Renaissance in Europe

Slow Decline Despite gains, empire loses land Suleyman kills one son & exiles another Selim II inherits throne = incompetent Practice of killing brothers & imprisoning sons established = long line of weak sultans Empire lasts until 1918