“Gunpowder” Empires

Why was the West Advancing? How did the Renaissance contribute? How did the Reformation contribute? How did Exploration & Absolutism contribute? Why did China fall behind? What factors led to China not dominating the West?

Why The West Was Advancing Renaissance –Humanism & the individual, classicism, secularism Reformation –Questioning (due to Middle Ages) –Competition for followers, missionary work Exploration & Absolutism –Spread of influence –Wealth from empire –Expansion of navy & army –Individual competition, national competition –Gain of knowledge (technology, science, medicine)

Why China Fell Behind No exploration, expansion of influence No competition for wealth, power (no need to enhance military, navy) No foreign influence (new tech., knowledge) Key Points for Today What brought Muslim Empires to their heights? Why did these empires decline (and not conquer/dominate the West)?

The Anatolian Turks Ghazis = Warriors for Islam –Military societies led by emir, or chief commander –Strict Islamic code of conduct –Raided territories of “infidels” Osman – most powerful ghazi a.k.a. Othman Osmanlis, or Ottomans

The Ottoman Empire Military  use of gunpowder –Replaced archers on horseback w/musket-carrying foot-soldiers –Among the 1 st to use cannons as weapons of attack Osman’s son Orkhan I declared himself sultan (“overlord”, “one with power How did the Ottomans treat the people they conquered? Kindly towards conquered people –Local officials appointed by sultan –Improved the lives of peasants

Timur the Lame Rebellious warrior from Samarkand in C. Asia –Europeans called him Tamerlane Burned Baghdad & crushed Ottoman forces at Battle of Ankara (1402) This defeat halted Ottoman expansion

Summary Questions How was the Anatolian Turk society organized? Why was Osman’s military successful? How did the Ottomans treat the people they conquered? What was the significance of Tamerlane?

Contributions of Mehmed II Mehmed II (“the Conqueror”)  “Give me Constantinople!” Constantinople dominated Bosporous Strait –Having control of this waterway meant controlling trade & transportation between Ottoman territories

Siege of Constantinople 1453 – began firing cannons on city walls Turkish fleet dragged 70 ships over hill on greased runners Attacked Constantinople from two sides After 7 weeks, Turks found break in wall & entered city Mehmed II opened Constantinople to new citizens of many religions & backgrounds –Jews, Christians, Muslims, Turks, non-Turks helped rebuild city, now known as Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia - interior

Contributions of Selim the Grim Selim the Grim defeated Safavids of Persia Conquered holiest cities of Islam  Mecca & Medina Captured Cairo, the intellectual center of Muslim world

Contributions of Suleyman Suleyman “the Magnificent” Great military leader –Dominated Mediterranean –Controlled trade routes Expanded northward into Hungary & Austria –Threatened central Europe Most powerful monarch of the time

Suleyman the Lawgiver Created law code to handle both criminal and civil actions –Simplified system of taxation –Reduced gov’t bureaucracy Bettered the daily life of almost every citizen

Summary Questions What was the advantage to taking Constantinople? How was Mehmed II able to conquer Constantinople? What was the significance of Mehmed’s military conquests? Why was Suleyman given the name “lawgiver”? Specific reasons

Structured Social Organization Palace bureaucracy staffed by 20,000 personal slaves Policy of devshirme  army drafted boys from conquered Christian territories –Educated, converted to Islam, trained as soldiers Elite force of 30,000 soldiers known as janissaries were trained to be loyal to sultan only Christian families sometimes bribed officials to take their children

Structured Social Organization Suleyman required to follow Islamic law –Granted freedom of worship to other religious communities Treated communities as millets or nations –The heads of the millets reported back to sultan –Minimized conflict between various religions

Cultural Flowering under Suleyman? Suleyman studied poetry, history, geography, astronomy, mathematics, architecture Employed Sinan, one of world’s finest architects, to build Mosque of Suleyman –Complex w/domes, includes four schools, library, bath, hospital Art & literature flourished Painters & poets used foreign influences to express Ottoman ideas

Why did Ottoman Empire decline? Why Didn’t Ottomans Dominate the West? Military weaknesses Europeans were surpassing Muslim technologies (navy) Collapse of janissary system – too involved in politics Tamerlane halts expansion Failure at Vienna Political & Economic Weaknesses Series of ineffective rulers No expansion of influence, exploration Restricted printing of info No dominance on trade No seeking knowledge of, or exposure to, new technologies/medicine/etc.

Ottomans exist until WWI

Summary Questions What were the advantages of the devshirme system for the sultan? What was the importance of Suleyman’s religious tolerance? Which cultural achievements of Suleyman’s reign were similar to the European Renaissance? What factors led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire?

Cultural Blending Causes Migration Pursuit of freedoms Trade Conquest Changes Language Religious & ethical systems Styles of gov’t Racial & ethnic blending Arts & architecture

Safavid Empire Safavids affiliated w/which Islamic sect? Shi’a (Shi’ite) Review ?  Why did Islam split into Sunni/Shi’a? Disagreed on who should rule Islam

Isma’il & Safavids Isma’il – took title of Shah (Persian for King) How was his rule different from Suleyman? Forced conversion (to Shi’ite sect), attacked Sunni Strict military control Defeated by Ottomans (who were mainly Sunni)

Safavid Golden Age Under leader of Shah Abbas Reformed military –Limited their influence –Divided into two armies Reformed gov’t –Punished corruption –Hired foreigners –Brought members of other religious groups (i.e. Christians)

Golden Age New capital of Esfahan, “half the world” - numerous parks, libraries, mosques, etc. Religious toleration –Welcomed Christian religious leaders Cultural blending –Chinese pottery & metalwork, Armenian woven carpets

Decline of Safavids Weak of ineffective, corrupt, cruel leaders –Assassinations Attacks from Ottomans, Afghans