Ch.19 SW Asia 1500-1750, Three Muslim Empires

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The Ottoman Empire to 1750

Expansion and Frontiers

•Longest lasting of the post-Mongol Muslim Empire. Founded around 1300 and lasting until the end of WWI (1919)

•Periods of change and problems reveal problems of all large land-based empires.

Empire grew because of: 1) founder Osman 2) strategic link between Europe and Asia 3) cavalry and gunpowder based military

•First conquered Greece, the Balkans and Constantinople in 1453 ending the Byzantine empire and renaming the city Istanbul.

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Rule

Military

• The sultan presided over the empire and pashas administered and collected taxes in the provinces. Grand Vizier advised the sultan.• Suleiman the Magnificent (r. 1520-66) was greatest ruler and known as the “lawgiver.” Known as the “golden age” of empire.

• Acquired slave soldiers from Christian territories in the Balkans, called janissaries. Since they were Christian they didn’t have a problem attacking other Muslims. Since they didn’t have a culture of riding horseback and bowmanship they readily adopted firearms and fighting on foot.•Devshirme (selection) was the system of imposing a levy of young boys from the Balkans and training them to become janissaries, military commanders and government officials as high as the grand vizier.

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Society

Economics

Religion

cosmopolitan•Jews and Muslims expelled from Spain after 1492 sought refuge in Ottoman territory.• Sultan saw his role as providing justice and military protection for his “raya” (flock of sheep).•In late 1500s, an influx of silver from the Americas caused high inflation and hardship to those living on fixed government income and led to frequent revolts.•Coffee from the Arabian port of Mocha became the rage and later spread to Europe.•After 1650 the sultan lived in his palace and had little contact with the outside world. Grand vizier and janissaries gained increased power. Land grants in exchange for military service disappeared. •The “Tulip Period” (1718-1730) began a craze for high priced tulip bulbs from Holland. The elite had European tastes in clothing, furniture and books.•Majority of Balkans converted to Islam•Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab began a conservative form of Islam in Arab known as “Wahabbism”

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The Safavid Empire 1502-1722

Society and Religion

•Land based Shi’ite muslim empire based in Iran.•Shah Ismail founded the empire in 1502 and declared it Shi’ite. Iran became a truly separate country surrounded by Sunni muslim neighbors.•Founders known as “redheads” because of their distinctive turbans.•Chief rival of the Ottoman empire.

•Persian emerged as the second language of Islam.the post-Mongol period was filled with artistic creativity seen in turquoise mosaics in mosques.•Madrasas trained the ulama to interpret the shari’a.•Shi’ites believe in “the Hidden Imam” (idea that the 12th descendant of Ali disappeared and will one day return to rule Islam).•The ulama hold independent and important political power in Iran.•The martyrdom of Husayn is remembered by large processions in the streets of self-flagellating men.

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Isfahan and Istanbul

Economics

Military

•Shah Abbas “the great”declared Isfahan the capital of Iran in 1598. •Isfahan was land locked and not frequently visited by Europeans as opposed to Istanbul. Istanbul was more cosmopolitan.•Both lacked wheeled vehicles and both were built for walking. Both lacked wide open spaces and had irregular narrow streets.•Women were seldom seen in public. The harem (forbidden area) were the women’s area of the house.•Both men and women dressed modestly covering up most of their bodies and hair.•Despite official disapproval, homosexuality between older men and younger boys was not unusual nor hidden.•Carpets and silk fabrics were main export•In the late 1600s, inflation from the influx of silver spread into Iran and the silk monopoly was mismanaged after Shah Abbas’ death.•Like Ottomans, lacked a powerful navy, relied on Christian convert slave corps to adopt guns but had problems paying military forces and government officials due to inflation and the empire collapsed in 1722 when the Afghans invaded.

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The Mughal Empire1526-1761

Politics

Society

Religion

•Mughal sultans reigned over largely Hindu population of India, distinct from largely muslim Ottoman and Safavid populations. Had to find co-existence between ancient Hindu practices and Islam.•Babur (1483-1530) founded the empire, a descendent of the Mongol ruler Timur in Afghanistan. “Mughal” is persian for “Mongol” .•Akbar “the Great” expanded empire to the southern tip of India and promoted Hindu-Muslim coexistence, even marrying a Hindu princess. Possibly ruled the wealthiest empire of the 16th century due to the cotton trade.•lacked a powerful navy. Used Dutch and English trade ships for military support in exchange for trade privileges.•Rajputs were Hindu princes who held positions of power in Mughal government.•The Taj Mahal is an architectural example of the blending of Hindu and Muslim culture.•Urdu is the blending of Persian and Hindu language.•Lower social castes converted to Islam•Sikhism founded by Nanak blended Hindu and Muslim beliefs and had an “army of the pure” who didn’t cut hair, wore turbans and bracelets, and carried sword to prove devotion.

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Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Decline

New Trade Empires in the East

•All three Muslim empires collapsed due to their inability to adjust to complex changes in military technology and the global economy.•Europeans had advantage due to ship design, use of the cannon on ships, and joint-stock companies allowed for efficiency and flexiblity in adapting to new global financial system.

•the Portuguese took over previously Muslim controlled trade zones along the Swahili coast of Africa.•The Dutch emerged as a new global trade power and took over Portuguese controlled areas of Java and the East Indies.

The Taj Mahal

Persian Carpet

Persian Mosque

Janissaries

Ottoman Empire

Gunpowder Empires

Sikh guy

South Park Sikh