1. Decline of the Ottoman Empire

2. Mehmed II Mehmed II- Storms Constantinople
Kept The Empire in a state of war
Political and Economic chaos – raise taxes
Political chaos: Janissaries were ready to rebel
Economic chaos: had to raise taxes to pay for his continuous warfare.

3. Selim I Selim I – caliph – protector of entire Islamic World
He captured Syria, Palestine, Egypt and Arabia –location of the holy cities
Peak of the Ottoman Empire

4. Sulieman I Began his reign by attacking Hungary
Danube River – battle – 1526
3 years later – attack Vienna and Austria
Conquered Austria
Too much military loss - retreat from attacking Vienna
Alliance with France – against Austria
After all of these attempts ottomans now needed to make alliances. They made an alliance with France and became allies against Austria. This made the Ottomans hold on Hungary and other Balkan territories stronger and France was given special trading rights with the Ottoman empire. Suleiman dies in 1566.

5. Ottoman Decline Begins with Battle of Lepanto -1571
Financial troubles – Janissaries expected salaries
Seized property
Corruption
Civil services now open to Muslims – entitled to salary
Seized property from landowners and rented it to tenant farmers. Much of the money never made it to the treasury do to the corruption.

6. Ottoman Decline
Inflation – increase in prices fall in purchasing value
Gold prices stayed level silver price fell
Prices for things paid for by silver doubled
1591- taxes collected were half of what they were 1534
Christians paid more tax
Gold and silver were brought to Europe by the spaniards in the 16th century after they had conquered the Americas. Silver was the currency that the Ottomans used.

7. Ottoman Decline Attitude towards trade different than Europe
Mercantilism – Europe
Discouraged exports and encouraged imports – Ottoman
1600 Ottomans lost control of their external trade