1. The Safavids and the Mughals
HIST 1004
1/16/13

2. Janissaries Traditional Ottoman army based on Turkic cavalry
Janissary Corps focused on infantry
and use of gunpowder weapons
Depending on talents, boys
enlisted in the Janissaries became
infantry, palace guards, or
administrators
Improvements in gunpowder
technologies increased the size
and influence of the Janissaries
(well over 50,000 strong at peak).

3. Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq’s Turkish Letters
Flemish nobleman, employed by the Hapsburg dynasty.
: Sent to Istanbul on
diplomatic mission for Ferdinand I,
archduke of Austria, king of Hungary
and Bohemia, and Holy Roman
Emperor
1589: publishes his notes on life at
the Ottoman court
What does de Busbecq see as the
strength of the Ottoman Empire?
What does he see as its weakness?

4. Constantinople and the Sublime Port
Move from tribal affiliations and personal loyalties to an abstract state.
Ottoman Sultan
as austere figure.
Cannot even
speak in his
presence.
Reflected in the
splendor of palace
life

5. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

6. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

7. The Gates of Topkapi Palace

8. An Audience with the Sultan

9. The New World and Ottoman Decline
Land-based empire, not interested in competing in maritime trade.
Flood of New World silver causes massive inflation.
Gold Coin =
60 Silver Coins
Gold Coin =
120 Silver Coins
Gold Coin =
250 Silver Coins
Price of wheat increases
2,000%

10. The Safavid Empire (1502-1722) Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili (1252-1334)
Founder of a Sufi Order
in Ardabil (near
Azerbaijan)
Late 15th century,
association with
Qizilbash (“red heads”)

11. The Safavid Empire (1502-1722) Shah Isma’il (r. 1502-1524)
Leads Qizilbash in conquest
of Iran
Begins forcible conversion
of Iran to Shi’ism
Battle of Chaldiran (1514)

12. Imami Shi’ism Sunnism vs. Shi’ism
Begins as political debate, who should lead the Muslim community after Muhammad (d. 632)
`Ali, Fatima, and the
Imamate
680: Battle of
Karbala and the
martyrdom of Husayn

13. The Twelfth Imam
Ismailis, Zaydis, and Imamis or Seveners, Fivers, and Twelvers
The Hidden Imam and Ayatollahs
Minor Occultation
( )
Major Occultation
(941-present)

14. Shah Abbas I (r. 1587-1629) Transforms Isfahan as new capital.
“Anyone who has seen Isfahan has seen half the world.”
“Anyone who says that has only seen half of Isfahan.”
Often a point of comparison with Istanbul as sites
of royal performance.
Image of Safavid
“party kings”
Shi’ite piety meets
Persian kingship

15. Esfahan nefs-e jahan est!

16. Isfahan is Half the World!

17. Ali Qapu

18. “Party Kings”

19. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

20. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

21. Jean Chardin (1643-1713) Protestant French jeweler and traveler
– travels with
merchants to Safavid Empire
– travels through
Ottoman, Safavid, and
Mughal Empires
1681 – moves to London to
escape persecution
Publishes his travel memoirs
How does Chardin view the
Safavid court?

22. Safavid Decline

23. Ottomans, Safavids, and Inflation
Flood of New World silver causes wide spread inflation
Can’t hire soldiers or purchase improved gunpowder weapons.
Ottomans a land-based empire, never tried to keep up with maritime trade.
Safavids location prevented them from engaging in new trade.
Focused primarily on silk and carpets.
1722: Safavids overthrown by Pashtun marauders.

24. Safavid Carpets

25. Mughal Empire (1526-1761) Challenge of ruling Hindu
population as outsiders.
Babur ( ):
descendent of both Genghis
Khan and Timur.
Pushed out of Central Asia
by rivals.
Heads south into India.

26. Akbar (r )

27. Akbar and the Hindus Mansabdars: officials holding land revenues
70% Muslims born outside of
India
15% Hindus, mostly Rajputs
(northern warrior class)
Akbar marries a Rajput, signals
unification and social harmony,
guarantees all future emperors
are mix of Muslim and Hindu.

28. Akbar and the “Divine Faith”
Mixture of Muslim, Hindu,
Zoroastrian, Sikh, and Christian
beliefs.
Strong Sufi influence
Oversaw debates of religious
scholars representing different
faiths, almost as a sport.
Allahu Akbar: “God is great”
or “God is Akbar”?

29. Mughals and European Merchants
Booming economy based on
cotton.
Used European merchants.
Did not develop merchant
fleet themselves.

30. Sir Thomas Roe (1581-1644) English diplomat
Member of Parliament ( )
Ambassador to Mughal Court ( )
Seek protection for British factories in Surat.
Close friend and
drinking companion of
Jahangir (r
1627)
How does Roe see
the Mughal court?

31. Fall of the Safavids and Fall of the Mughals
Destabilization after collapse of
Safavids.
1739: Nadir Shah, warlord who
seized power in Iran and Afghanistan,
raids Mughal territory.
Carries off “peacock throne” and
Koh-i Nur diamond, symbols of
Mughal kingship.
Continued raids from Afghanistan
and European expansion
encourages various regions to
break off.