1. CHAPTER 21: MUSLIM EMPIRES
Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal dynasties

3. “Gunpowder empires” - similarities
Islamic
Centralized government
Sultan - Ottoman
Shah - Safavid
Emperor - Mughal
Bureaucracies managed the empires (Ottoman bureaucracy was the most extensive)

4. They existed at around the same time – Suleiman (Ottoman), Abbas I (Safavid), Akbar (Mughal) were the rulers at the height of each empire and were contemporaries.
Warrior aristocrats were awarded land and peasants for support of leader

6. Weapons: cannons and muskets were the key for these empires’ successes

7. Each had slavery as an institution
non-Muslims were slaves
the status of slaves varied widely
Concubines of India

8. Leaders patronized the arts
Example: Architecture
huge focus of these leaders’ energies
incorporated Islamic elements
Istanbul: Sulimaniye mosque

9. Dehli: Red Fort

10. Taj Mahal

11. Muslim: domes, arches, minarets; Hindu: love of ornament

12. Safavid: Shah Mosque
(note the blue tiles)

13. Religious tolerance
Government positions were available to outsiders and non- Muslims
Ottoman empire
Janissaries
Devshirme
Russian army slave boys in the Safavid dynasty
Conquering Southeastern Europe gave Ottomans a new resource– Christian prisoners; BUT Early Janissaries not allowed to marry, Ottomans needed to replenish their numbers; New system: “Devshirme” - Conquered Christian territories had children levies, Christian villages had to give up a certain number of male children to become Janissaries

14. Dhimmi
Millets
Overall, the Ottoman empire was more religiously tolerant than other early modern societies
Millets: refers to the separate legal courts pertaining to "personal law" under which communities (Muslim Sharia, Christian Canon law and Jewish Halakha law abiding) were allowed to rule themselves under their own system.

15. Religious intolerance
Religious minorities were persecuted at times
e.g. Sikhs in Mughal empire
Non-Muslims paid higher taxes
Missionary efforts and reforms aimed at religious nonconformists

16. Differences and conflicts
The split between Sunni and Shi’a traditions of Islam intensified
Safavid used Shiism to legitimize their rule
Day of Ashura: mark-day-of-ashura/2011/12/05/gIQAa8PTWO_gallery.html#photo=1
Ottoman Sunnis frequently conflicted with Shi’a Safavids

17. Dark green: Shi’a populations today

18. Similar factors leading to decline
Stretched too thin
Succession issues
Corrupt and/or inept leaders
Taxation and poor treatment of peasants  revolts and rebellions

19. LAND BASED EMPIRES VS. SEA BASED EMPIRESC

20. Land Based Sea Based Self-defense extremely important
Examples?
Ottoman, Russian, Mughal, Ming
Relatively Large
Expensive
Focused on agriculture and not industry
Many were located in arid & uninhabitable areas
Involved in forced labor
Power was centralized
Largest administrative and economic systems from 1500 and 1800, because they were more of a threat to each other
Few strategic concerns
Examples?
Spain, Portugal, England
Relatively Small
Self-sufficient
Settled in in profitable areas
Involved in forced labor
Power “divided” amongst lands
Benefited from private investors or joint-stock companies