The Islamic Gunpowder Empires 1500-1800 Global Interdependence and Exchange

Trio of Empires Ottoman Empire (1289-1918) Safavid Empire (1501-1722) Mughal Empire (1523-1739)

Islam Central to nation-state expansion Religion, culture & civilization Quran – Holy book. Revelations given to Mohammed. Sharia – Totality of political, religious, social and private life.

5 Pillars of Islam Declaration of Islam Prayer Fasting – Ramadan Almsgiving – Zakat Pilgrimage - Hajj

Islam is not monolithic Sunni – Approximately 90% of Muslims. Shi’a – Re-established with the emergence of the Safavid dynasty. Sufi – Mystic tradition. The Sunni branch believes that the first four caliphs--Mohammed's successors--rightfully took his place as the leaders of Muslims. They recognize the heirs of the four caliphs as legitimate religious leaders. These heirs ruled continuously in the Arab world until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire following the end of the First World War. Shiites, in contrast, believe that only the heirs of the fourth caliph, Ali, are the legitimate successors of Mohammed. Sufi brotherhoods and sisterhoods can be Sunni or Sh’ia

Ottoman Empire 1298-1918 First of the three Reached its peak in 1600 Survived through WWI Present day Turkey

Ottoman – Beginnings Grew from remnants of Turkic peoples after fall of Mongol Rule Ghazi Warriors Osman Bey Gazi warriors – sacred duty to extend faith.

Empire Building 1300-1400 Janissaries (yeni cheri) Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and former Yugoslavia Official recognition of Orthodox Christian Church Invasion of Timur destroyed most of empire

Mehmed the Conqueror 1451-81 Taking of Constantinople “Sovereign of the Two Lands and the Two Seas” – Established Ottoman Empire in Europe and Asia Artillery & naval power

Military Campaigns 1480-1520 Shift focus from Christian Europe to Islamic Empires in Egypt and Persia Fierce campaign against the Safavids Mecca and Medina

Suleyman I 1520-66 Suleyman the Magnificent Height of the Ottoman Empire Further move into Europe Renewed hostilities with Safavids

Franco-Ottoman Alliance 1536 Roman Empire vs France Ottomans sided with France Cornerstone of European diplomacy Countered other European alliances Suleyman able to focus on conquest of other Islamic Empires

Relations with Safavids Renewed hostilities Took Baghdad and Tabriz, the capital By 1538 controlled Persian Gulf and Red Sea Treaty of 1555 returned Tabriz to Safavids

Death and Decline Loss to Europeans at Malta - 1565 Suleyman died in 1566 By 1600 lost much of its power Survived until the end of WWI

Safavid Empire 1501-1722 Origins as a religious sect Officially a Shi’ite empire Short lived Present day Iran

Shah Ismail 1501-26 Twelver Shi’ism official religion Violent conversion Qizilbash Claimed Ottoman land

Instability 1524-87 Death of Ismail – 1524 Power struggle among Qizilbash Move to more secular administration Attempt to return to Sunni origins Number of rulers unable to stabilize empire The Qizilbash ("Red Heads" due to their red headgear) were a religious group of different ethnic backgrounds, who helped found the Safavid dynasty. Kizilbash were able to produce a well-equipped army which was loyal to the Dynasty. They fought many campaigns, mosty against the Ottomans.

Abbas the Great 1587-1629 Rejuvenated empire Quelled internal revolts Faced Ottomans Enhanced trade with Europeans

Domestic Affairs Permanent paid army to counter Qizilbash infighting Centralization of power Relocation of capital to Isfahan

Conflict with the Ottomans Peace Treaty of 1590 Retook Tabriz in 1605 Recaptured Baghdad 1623 By death in 1629 Safavid Empire restored to borders established by Ismail I

Europeans Concluded new trade agreements to offset losses to Portuguese Traded Persian silks with English Became middleman for Indian goods Allied with British against Ottomans

Decline Abbas I feared ascension to throne Ceased giving provincial governorships to Safavid princes No shah was prepared to hold empire together Fell to Afghan invaders

Mughal Empire 1523-1739 Struggle to consolidate Succession of strong rulers Eventually absorbed by British Empire in India – mid 19th century

Founding of the empire Previous examples of positive Muslim-Hindu relations Babur established capital at Kabul (present capital of Afghanistan) Consolidated territory of Hindustan (India) with use of artillery

Humayun 1530-56 Unstable administration Brothers challenged for the throne Race for territory with Sher Shah Held onto Mughal Empire

Akbar 1556-1605 Consolidated and expanded empire Put down challenges to the throne Continued tradition of tolerance of Hindu traditions

Conquest and Expansion Rajasthan Province of Bengal Hindustan Plain Province of Kashmir

Religion & Administration Tolerated Hindu religion Invited missionaries to teach tenets of Christianity Moved away from orthodox Islam

Transition Campaign for the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent Strained relations between Hindus and Muslims Social unrest

Imperial Islamic Society Military Nation-State Economics Islam & Art Many differences and tensions but there are some important similarities that we see emerge from these three empires.

Military Nation-State Empires legitimized rule with military conquest Armies were important part of leadership Use of gunpowder artillery turned tables of warfare

Economics Trade – extensive routes Agriculture and commerce Point of exchange Agriculture and commerce were integral components of an extensive trade infrastructure. Became a point of interchange with Europe, Asia and Africa.

Islam & Art Architecture Poetry Painting Religion greatly impacted art. Many of the art pieces that have survived show a practical usefulness to their creation. In addition there was a religious connection. Architecture became the most enduring. Mosques, tombs, and the Taj Mahal.

Decline of Islamic Empires Limits of military state Economic stagnation Cultural islands Three factors are integral to each other.

Limits of Military State Inconsistent leadership Costly wars of conquest Internal dissention and competition All three underwent numerous leadership changes without the gurantntee that there would be a strong leader. Internal dissention, esp. The Ottomans and Safavids, gazi and qizilbash

Economic Stagnation Weak middle-class Trade routes began to move onto the sea routes Loss of revenue with loss of territory Middle class was more interested in trade and commerce but adherehce to a strcit military state gave sucha class little support. With the loss of territory less taxes were being collected.

Cultural Isolation European interest was not reciprocated Resistance to outside cultural influences Faith and tradition vs. technology Conservative resistance to technology such as the printing press as well as other scientific discoveries. Not ot judge progress versus backwardsness

Conclusion Empires represented growing interdependence Exchange of people, ideas and technology Use of artillery changed warfare Legacy of art, religion and nation Islam figures into nationalism in contemporary times. Ie Iran and Iraq. Double edge sward I mean this empires used gunpowder artillery to further military expansion yet were inflexible about other outside technologicalinfluences.