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Chapter 28 Islamic Empires. Ottoman, Safavid & Mughal. So called “Gunpowder Empires”. All 3 empires are nomadic Turkish from the steppes of central Asia Retain tradition but adapt to city based agricultural societies they conquered Ottoman conquer Anatolia, Safavid - Persia and Mughal India
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Chapter 28 Islamic Empires Ottoman, Safavid & Mughal
So called “Gunpowder Empires” • All 3 empires are nomadic Turkish from the steppes of central Asia • Retain tradition but adapt to city based agricultural societies they conquered • Ottoman conquer Anatolia, Safavid - Persia and Mughal India • All 3 Islam • Height = 16th & early 17th century • Mid 17th century cease to expand (their man source of wealth) also waste money on war & lack of investment in infrastructure
Problems of multi-ethnic empires • When conservative Muslim leaders want to impose strict Islam they faced resentment from minority populations
Ottoman Empire 1289-1923 • Osman and his followers were Sunni Muslims and ghazi, or religious warriors • Expand from base at Edirne expand into Balkans • Plunder and land grants finance their regime (like Daimyo and knights)
Devshirme • Orthodox Christian Balkan boys taken as slaves & converted to Islam • From there they either enter bureaucracy or the military as Janissaries
Under Mehmet II • Tightly centralized absolute monarchy governed from Istanbul (after Byzantine Empire is defeated in 1453) • Conquers Serbia, Greece, Albania & Genoese ports in Crimea. • Long naval war with Venice
Under Suleyman “the lawgiver” 1512 - 20 • Get to gates of Vienna v Habsburg • Inherit Mamluk navy • Challenge Portugese in Red Sea & Indian Ocean*
Safavid • Shah Ismail’s (1501-24) “qizilbash warriors” Twelver Shiism which they force on Sunni population • Produce hatred among Ottoman Sunnis who fear the spread of the Twelvers. • In turn, Ottoman ruler, Selim the Grim persecutes Shiites in Ottoman Empire
Ottomans defeat Sunnis at Chaldiran in 1514 • Shah Abbas the Great revives the Safavid 1588-1624 • He seeks European help v Ottoman
Mughal Empire • Babur no religious pretense like the other empires - conquers Delhi in 1526 • His grandson was Akbar 1556-1605 dictator destroys Hindu Empire of Vijayanagar. • Religiously tolerant encourages syncretic Islam - Hindu faith (Sikh)
Mughals reach height under Aurangzeb • He’s a devout Muslim and sacks Hindu temples • Head tax on Hindus (like Caliphate)
All 3 empires were military creations • Empires seen as personal property of rulers by right of conflict reflecting steppe traditions • Bloody succession struggles (based on charismatic leader) • Women are important in fact if not tradition (Chinggis Kahn’s wife and mother)
Agriculture and Trade • Agriculture used to finance armies & bureaucracy • Usually wheat & rice • Columbian Exchange had less of a dramatic effect (except tobacco & coffee) than in China for instance
Demography • India 105M - 1500>>135M -1600; 165 M - 1700; 190M - 1800 • Ottoman increase (-28M 1500-1600 mainly from conquest
Active Participation in global trade • Ottomans give trading concessions to England & France. • Safavids - English E. India Co., French E India Co. get concessions • Mughals concentrate on internal trade and its land (not naval) empire. Allow Portugese, English, French & Dutch trading station
Mughals • Non Muslims protected people dhimmi pay jizya handle own legal affairs. • Toleration not popular among conservative Muslims Arangzeb ends toleration
All 3 Empires • Emphasize emperor’s prestige via public works and the patronage of scholars • Many splendid architectural wonders - Taj Mahal, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sofia in Istanbul
Transition • Safavid disappear; Mughals - by 1750 British rule India; and, 1700 O.Empire lose control of Lebanon & Egypt
Reasons for downfall • Incompetent rulers (as China) • Infighting in royal houses promoting mutinies and provincial revolts • Religious tensions caused by conservative Muslims including Wahhabi Movement (now in Saudi Arabia) call Ottoman dangerous innovators. Gets rulers to pull plug on printing press and astronomy
Causes of Downfall • Loss of foreign trade to Europeans • High cost of military & bureaucracy • Once military expansion slows they raise money by upping taxes, selling public offices and bribes • Content to allow European penetration without projecting their products as exports
Causes of Downfall • No native armaments guns/cannons they have grow obsolete • Conservative ethos - few Muslims travel to infidel lands of the Franks • Feel W. European innovations are impious and unneeded • Like Ming, Qing & Tokagawa resist introduction of cultural, scientific and philosophic influences from W. Europe