What might the expression "gunpowder empire" mean? Today you are learning about the Ottoman Empire which can be considered a “gunpowder empire: What might the expression "gunpowder empire" mean? It refers to an empire in which people know how to use guns and gunpowder. They may correctly infer that a gunpowder empire is established through military force.

Background  The earliest form of gunpowder was called black powder. Black powder was a mixture of potassium nitrate, sulfur, and charcoal. Most historians believe that the Chinese invented black powder in the 800s. Its early uses were for fireworks and signals. It was not long, however, before gunpowder was used in such weapons as cannons and bombs. Some scholars believe that the Arabs invented black powder. By about 1300, the Arabs had invented the first gun—a bamboo tube reinforced with iron, which used a charge of black powder to fire an arrow.

Science and Technology: Janissaries The Ottoman Empire was a “gunpowder empire.” Its success in conquering neighboring regions was largely due to its mastery of gunpowder weapons, from large cannons to hand-held firearms. By understanding how mastery of a technology can create a superior military force, you can better understand how a nation or empire can establish and expand its power.

Background By the fourteenth century, the Ottomans had successfully used siege cannons and early firearms to expand their empire. The earliest firearms did not have triggers; they had to be held under the arm and required two people as it was difficult to aim and fire one of these cumbersome and inaccurate weapons. In the fifteenth century, however, two new inventions paved the way for the first mechanical firearms. First came the “slow match”—a cord soaked in a combustible solution and then dried. Next came the matchlock mechanism, a mechanical trigger device that used a slow match to ignite gunpowder and set off a gun’s explosive.

Early Spread of Ottoman Control Strong military Mastery of firearms Spread into Balkans

Today's troops are much more formidable. Discussion How do you think the janissaries would compare with elite armed troops today? Today's troops are much more formidable.

Expansion into Europe, Western Asia, and Africa Siege of Constantinople and end of Byzantium Expansion into Asia, Africa, and Europe Repulses at Vienna and Lepanto

Discussion  What difficulties might the Ottomans have had in governing their empire? The empire covered vast expanses of land and included people with different languages, religions, and ways of life.

Turks Turks is a general term that refers to various peoples of different ethnic groups that speak Turkic languages. Throughout the modern era, most Turks have lived in Asia and have been Muslim.

Sultan Heads Ottoman Government Sultan as supreme political and military authority Members of Ottoman bureaucracy

Discussion  Why might the sultans have become isolated from their people as the complexity of their government increased? With so many government officials helping him, a sultan probably would not have dealt directly with the people very often.

Dynasties In many dynasties—including the Ottoman dynasty—a ruler's son usually became the new ruler after the ruler's death. However, conflicts often arose when a ruler had more than one son.

Discussion  Why might merchants have been a privileged class in Ottoman society? Merchants increased the empire's wealth by trading outside the empire.