The Ottoman Empire

1. The Ottoman Empire

2. Ottoman Turks • Named after leader, Osman in late 1200s • 1453- Constantinople became their capital: renamed Istanbul • End of Byzantine Empire • 1500s- Sultan Selim I took control of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Arabia • Control of holy cities: Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina • Declared himself the new caliph, successor to Muhammad, defender of faith

3. Suleiman I, “The Lawgiver” • Ruled from 1520-1566 • Was both sultan (political and military ruler) & caliph (Sunni Islamic ruler) • Power passed through hereditary lines • Grand vizier: sultan’s political advisor • Ulema: sultan’s group of religious advisors • Janissaries: members of the army, often captured from Christian families as children.

4. Ottoman Law • Social classes: • Rulers: sultan +officials • Nobles: owned lots of landagriculture • Peasants: worked those farms (BIGGEST GROUP!)

5. Ottomans and Religion • Some religious tolerance • Other religions could have a leader who presented the desires of the group (millets) • More lenient towards women • Could own property • Couldn’t be forced into marriage • Could seek divorce

6. Ottoman Empire, continued • Strong Navy to protect trade • Europeans concerned about Ottoman threat to trade and Christianity • 1572- Battle of Lepanto- Spanish fleet defeated the Ottoman fleet • Ruled until early 1900s, but began losing territory after loss of the Battle of Carlowitz in 1699 • Corruption, introduction of alcohol, coffee and tobacco went against Islamic laws

7. Ottoman Art • Pottery, rugs, silk, textiles, jewelry, arms and armor, architecture • mosques modeled after Hagia Sophia • minarets- towers that call Muslims to prayer

9. The Safavid Empire

10. Islamic Split • Safavid Persians broke away from the Islamic Empire because of religious differences. • Ottoman sultan claimed religious rule • Safavid’s followed Shi’ite Islam: religious rule passes down through the line of Muhammad’s son-in-law, Ali • Safavids required all subjects to accept Shi’ite form of Islam

11. Shah Abbas • Ruled from 1587-1629 • Built Isfahan as the Safavid capital • Many building projects • Imam Mosque, parks, palace • Tried to gain any allies possible against Ottomans • Even teamed up with Britain, an Christian state

12. Safavid Culture • Persian culture spread • Language, diplomacy, trade • Delicate architecture

13. Imam Mosque

14. Decline • After Shah Abbas, there was a series of weak rulers. • 1736- Nader Shah expanded Persian empire to greatest height, but he was assassinated in 1747 • Late 1700s- Qajar Turks took the throne and ruled until 1925

15. The Mogul Empire

16. Early Mogul Empire • Late 1300s-Timur Lenk (Tamerlane) ruled central Asia/India • Ruthless leader • 1398- destroyed Delhi, killing thousands • After his death, his Muslim Empire started to crumble • 1526- Babur (descendent of Timur Lenk) conquered Delhi at Battle of Panipat • Set up Mogul Dynasty

17. Akbar the Great • Babur’s grandson was Akbar • Benevolent ruler who inherited the throne at age 14 • Brought peace and order to northern India • Empire seemed centralized, but actually many semi-independent states held together by Emperor Akbar • Encouraged religious tolerance to ensure peace between Muslims (monotheistic) and Hindus (many gods) • Din-i-ilahi (The Divine Faith) • Akbar’s created religion that combined aspects of Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, and others.

18. Mogul Culture • Music, painting, literature flourished in Mughal India • Courts were centers of art and learning, built libraries • Akbar was illiterate! • Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal at Agra • Trade with China brought gunpowder, paper, and Chinese porcelain to Mogul India

19. Taj Mahal

20. Mogul Decline • Late 1600s- religious toleration was abandoned • Right to the throne caused fighting between the ruling family • Persecution of Hindus and Sikhs (another middle eastern religion) led these religious groups to rebel, thus weakening the empire.