130 likes | 245 Views
The Ottoman Empire. Essential Question. Why were the Ottoman Sultans able to rule as all-powerful rulers?. Introduction. The 1 st Ottoman were nomadic Turkish warriors for Islam, from Central Asia Fled from Central Asia to escape the Mongols Attacked the Byzantines
E N D
Essential Question • Why were the Ottoman Sultans able to rule as all-powerful rulers?
Introduction • The 1st Ottoman were nomadic Turkish warriors for Islam, from Central Asia • Fled from Central Asia to escape the Mongols • Attacked the Byzantines • Failed to capture Constantinople (Capital) • Captured Adrianopolis (2nd most important city) • 1396 – 1st Sultan (ruler) appointed
Elite Ottoman Army • Known as Janissaries • Made up of young war captives & Christian slaves • Were converted to Islam, then trained as soldiers • Belonged to the Sultan, & served for life • Gained power & influence, eventually became important political group
Timur Challenges the Ottomans • Timur – Turko-Mongol leader • Born in 1336, claimed he was a descendant of Genghis Khan • Created an army, built power in Central Asia, & began a career of conquest • 1402 – Defeats Ottoman Army in Battle of Ankara • Captures Sultan, forced Ottomans to return territory they took from others
Recovery & Expansion • Civil war broke out over who should be next Sultan • Murad II took power & began to expand empire • Defeated last European crusaders in Battle of Varna • Followed by Mehmed II • Conquered Constantinople (Byzantine Capital) in 1453 • Renamed city Istanbul – Became Ottoman capital
Suleiman the Magnificent • Greatest Ottoman Sultan • Ruled from 1520 – 1566 • Led Ottoman Empire to Golden Age • Reunited Muslim world (except Persia & Afghanistan) by conquering North Africa
Government & Society • Sultan • Governed from Istanbul as all-powerful ruler • Empire was well-organized & efficiently governed • Assisted by Janissaries • 2nd in Command – Grand Viziers
Government & Society • Society – 2 major groups • Small ruling class • Reaya – Larger group of ordinary people • There was social mobility
Government & Society • Millet System • Reaya made up of different groups of people • Muslim Turks, Christians, Jews, & Arabs • Strong religious tension • Religious freedom was allowed by Sultans • Millet – Separate religious communities of Reaya • Under control of Sultan, but governed themselves • Each has its own laws, customs, courts, taxes, education, health system, & defense
The Slow Decline • 1566 – Suleiman the Magnificent dies • Marked beginning of the decline • 1571 – Phillip II leads Spanish navy to defeat Ottomans • Battle of Lepanto – Europeans defeat Ottomans near Greece
The Slow Decline • 1600 – Government & Economy face problems • Lost control of silk & spice trade • New trade routes bypassed Ottoman Empire • Power of Sultans weakened • Government became corrupt due to internal power struggles • Rebellions among the Janissaries • Lost territory to Russia & France • 1923 – Empire ends when Turkey establishes a republic