The Safavids and the Mughals

1. The Safavids and the Mughals HIST 1004 1/16/13

2. Janissaries • Traditional Ottoman army based on Turkic cavalry • Janissary Corps focused on infantry and use of gunpowder weapons • Depending on talents, boys enlisted in the Janissaries became infantry, palace guards, or administrators • Improvements in gunpowder technologies increased the size and influence of the Janissaries (well over 50,000 strong at peak).

3. OgierGhiselin de Busbecq’sTurkish Letters • Flemish nobleman, employed by the Hapsburg dynasty. • 1555-1561: Sent to Istanbul on diplomatic mission for Ferdinand I, archduke of Austria, king of Hungary and Bohemia, and Holy Roman Emperor • 1589: publishes his notes on life at the Ottoman court • What does de Busbecq see as the strength of the Ottoman Empire? • What does he see as its weakness?

4. Constantinople and the Sublime Port • Move from tribal affiliations and personal loyalties to an abstract state. • Ottoman Sultan as austere figure. • Cannot even speak in his presence. • Reflected in the splendor of palace life

5. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

6. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

7. The Gates of Topkapi Palace

8. An Audience with the Sultan

9. The New World and Ottoman Decline • Land-based empire, not interested in competing in maritime trade. • Flood of New World silver causes massive inflation. • 1580 1 Gold Coin = 60 Silver Coins • 1590 1 Gold Coin = 120 Silver Coins • 1640 1 Gold Coin = 250 Silver Coins • Price of wheat increases 2,000%

10. The Safavid Empire (1502-1722) • Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili (1252-1334) • Founder of a Sufi Order in Ardabil (near Azerbaijan) • Late 15th century, association with Qizilbash (“red heads”)

11. The Safavid Empire (1502-1722) • Shah Isma’il (r. 1502-1524) • Leads Qizilbash in conquest of Iran • Begins forcible conversion of Iran to Shi’ism • Battle of Chaldiran (1514)

12. ImamiShi’ism • Sunnism vs. Shi’ism • Begins as political debate, who should lead the Muslim community after Muhammad (d. 632) • `Ali, Fatima, and the Imamate • 680: Battle of Karbala and the martyrdom of Husayn

13. The Twelfth Imam • Ismailis, Zaydis, and Imamis or Seveners, Fivers, and Twelvers • The Hidden Imam and Ayatollahs • Minor Occultation (874-941) • Major Occultation (941-present)

14. Shah Abbas I (r. 1587-1629) • Transforms Isfahan as new capital. • “Anyone who has seen Isfahan has seen half the world.” • “Anyone who says that has only seen half of Isfahan.” • Often a point of comparison with Istanbul as sites of royal performance. • Image of Safavid “party kings” • Shi’ite piety meets Persian kingship

15. Esfahan nefs-e jahanest!

16. Isfahan is Half the World!

17. Ali Qapu

18. “Party Kings”

19. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

20. Topkapi Palace, Istanbul

21. Jean Chardin (1643-1713) • Protestant French jeweler and traveler • 1664-1670 – travels with merchants to SafavidEmpire • 1671-1680 – travels through Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires • 1681 – moves to London to escape persecution • Publishes his travel memoirs • How does Chardin view the Safavidcourt?

22. Safavid Decline

23. Ottomans, Safavids, and Inflation • Flood of New World silver causes wide spread inflation • Can’t hire soldiers or purchase improved gunpowder weapons. • Ottomans a land-based empire, never tried to keep up with maritime trade. • Safavids location prevented them from engaging in new trade. • Focused primarily on silk and carpets. • 1722: Safavids overthrown by Pashtun marauders.

24. Safavid Carpets

25. Mughal Empire (1526-1761) • Challenge of ruling Hindu population as outsiders. • Babur (1483-1530): descendent of both Genghis Khan and Timur. • Pushed out of Central Asia by rivals. • Heads south into India.

26. Akbar (r. 1556-1605)

27. Akbar and the Hindus • Mansabdars: officials holding land revenues • 70% Muslims born outside of India • 15% Hindus, mostly Rajputs (northern warrior class) • Akbar marries a Rajput, signals unification and social harmony, guarantees all future emperors are mix of Muslim and Hindu.

28. Akbar and the “Divine Faith” • Mixture of Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, Sikh, and Christian beliefs. • Strong Sufi influence • Oversaw debates of religious scholars representing different faiths, almost as a sport. • Allahu Akbar: “God is great” or “God is Akbar”?

29. Mughals and European Merchants • Booming economy based on cotton. • Used European merchants. • Did not develop merchant fleet themselves.

30. Sir Thomas Roe (1581-1644) • English diplomat • Member of Parliament (1614-1644) • Ambassador to Mughal Court (1615-1618) • Seek protection for British factories in Surat. • Close friend and drinking companion of Jahangir (r. 1605- 1627) • How does Roe see the Mughal court?

31. Fall of the Safavids and Fall of the Mughals • Destabilization after collapse of Safavids. • 1739: Nadir Shah, warlord who seized power in Iran and Afghanistan, raids Mughal territory. • Carries off “peacock throne” and Koh-iNur diamond, symbols of Mughal kingship. • Continued raids from Afghanistan and European expansion encourages various regions to break off.