Political Administration in the Middle East before the 20 th Century A very brief snapshot

Pre-Ottoman politics 7 th century: Rise of Islam and Islamic Empires Umayyad Empire, (capital at Damascus) Abbasid Empire, (capital at Baghdad) Other dynasties & the Mongols Ibn Battuta, a 14 th century traveler from Tangiers.

Who were the Ottomans? Founded & ruled one of the world’s biggest and longest-lived empires Muslim Turkish dynasty: Osmanlılar Encompassed territory from Europe to N. Africa Mehmet the Conquerer riding his horse in front of Aya Sofia church after conquering Constantinople in Source: picturesindex.html

A map of the expansion of the Ottoman Empire

A map of the contraction of the Ottoman Empire Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica, from

Map of the Ottoman Empire at its height

About the Empire Loosely administered Muslim empire Sultan as Caliph, or protector of the Faith (but not seen as divine) Multi-National, Multi-lingual, Multi-Ethnic Turks, Arabs, Greeks, Kurds, Jews, Armenians, Bulgarians, Albanians, Croats, Serbs, etc. Until 1850, 50% of the Empire’s population lived in the Balkans State did NOT attempt to create cultural conformity. Multiple religions within the empire Christians and Jews given special status as “people of the book”, or Dhimmis

Ottoman Political Administration The Sultan/Caliph Grand Vizier and the bureaucracy (Istanbul) Ottoman Army Governors (Local notables) ruled the provinces By 18 th -19 th century most drawn from powerful local families Ulema –religious elite A miniature portrait of Sultan Murat III, from the 16 th c.

Source: st275/Map%20List.htm

The state’s role  Defend the borders of the empire  Protect the faith (Islam)  Collect taxes  Maintain public peace An illuminated page from the Quran by Ahmet Karahisari, from the Topkapi Palace collection.

Socio-political groups in the Ottoman Age  Settled peasants and villagers  Tribes  Nomads  Prominent local families  Guilds & merchants  Local religious orders and religious leaders Picture of a Bulgarian woman in 19 th century finery. Source: Ottoman archives from the Turkish Library.

Socio-political groups  Ottoman officials – governors, judges, financial officials, rural police  Classes: the working classes and the wealthy; the rulers and the ruled From the Turkish National Library/Ottoman Cultural Heritage by Pictures

A woman of Topkapi Palace, 19 th century. The painting is entitled “Palace lady” and is painted by Pierre D. Guilement, from the Dolmabahce Palace Collection. The status of women Two worlds (haremlık and selamlık) Varying status, but generally viewed as subservient to men & in need of protection Upper-class women tended to veil; working women often did not

Connections between state and society  Taxes  Administration-  state-provincial relations  Codes of Law  Standards for conduct and dress  Religious institutes and religious frameworks  Administered schools, social welfare programs, courts, etc. The Grand Husseini Mosque in Amman, Jordan, originally built in the 7 th century.

State-minority relations under the Ottomans Dhimmi status for Christians and Jews Forced conversions discouraged Special protection 2 nd class status Head tax on non-Muslim males Periodic persecution The Millet system Christian & Jewish communities largely self- governing, with head of community as liaison between the sultan and the community

An evolving Empire: Main phases of Ottoman rule Classical Period ( ) Rise, expansion and consolidation Political power primarily in hands of the Sultan Middle Period (1680s-1798) Ottoman integration into the world economy; territorial retraction Shift in power from sultan to offices of the vizier Provinces virtually autonomous Long 19 th century ( ) Emergence of the modern Ottoman state State under pressure from Imperialist Europe Redefinition in status of religious minorities and women Newly centralized State: State begins taking over many new tasks

The flight of Hazerfan Ahmet Çelebi from the Tower of Galata. Source: _ A painting by Levni of an 19 th c. female subject of the Empire.

An Ottoman map of Istanbul, from Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.