The Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was the one of the largest and longest lasting empires in history. It was an empire inspired and sustained by Islam.

The Ottomans established an empire over European, Asian, and African territories. With this, the Ottomans took their faith, Islam, and established Islamic traditions and culture that have lasted to today.

Overview Controlled what is now Turkey and parts of North Africa, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Europe Istanbul = capital city (Originally Constantinople, but when taken by Sultan Mehmed renamed city Istanbul) Rulers were called sultans – sultans had absolute power – main purpose – to ensure justice, especially for the helpless (also took title of Caliph- thus, ruler of Islamic world as well) Although an Islamic empire, Christians and Jews could pay a tax that would allow them to worship.

What lead to the creation and expansion of the Ottoman Empire? Muslim Ottomans were driven by a desire to convert new territory to Islam. Wanted to control trade routes

Asia Minor What would be significant about the location of Asia Minor?

Asia Minor Whoever controlled this area would control the trade routes between Europe and Asia (west and east) as well as Europe and Africa (north and south).

Asia Minor Once Constantinople was taken, Ottomans controlled the east/west and north/south trade routes.

The empire continued to expand under various sultans.

Locate Mecca. Why is this city so important to the Islamic Ottoman Empire? Why would access to this city be so important to the Ottomans?

One of the pillars of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca. Thus, Ottomans wanted to maintain safe access to Mecca.

At its height, the Ottoman Empire included Anatolia (Turkey), Southeastern Europe, the Arab Middle East and North Africa

Another important factor of the expansion of the empire was the wisdom of Suleiman.

Suleiman Called… The Magnificent (by Christians) The Lawgiver (by Muslims)

Helped any Islamic country that was threatened by invading Europeans. Destabilization of Europe - he realized that if he could destabilize the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire, he could keep Europe destabilized. Therefore, when Christianity split Europe into Catholics and Protestants, he financially supported the Protestants in order to keep Europe destabilized. Ruled with great wisdom and justice. Considered a second Solomon. Suleiman’s Wisdom …

Suleiman’s empire … He reigned for 46 years Empire at peak under Suleiman Empire gained enormous wealth – from control of the Mediterranean … especially Egypt, which gave him the resources to build his empire Called himself Caliph – which justified his annexation of other Islamic countries such as Iraq and Arabia Europe greatest threat to empire –Built a fleet which dominated Mediterranean

Suleiman – the builder Great cultivator of arts – Istanbul became center of visual arts, music, writing and philosophy – Suleiman himself was a great poet and many of his poems are considered the best of Islamic poetry Wanted to make Istanbul a center of Islamic culture – massive building projects with architect Sinan –

Suleiman’s Mosque

considered some of the greatest in the world Mosques of Sinan

The Blue Mosque Under Suleiman’s reign, the Ottoman Empire was considered the richest and most powerful empire in Southwest Asia.

As the empire grew, so did the need for a larger, stronger army whose loyalty was strictly to the sultan.

The Janissaries Sultan’s soldiers 1300’s - Developed from a small force of slaves. By 1600 they were so powerful even Sultans feared them As Sultans grew weaker, Janissaries grew stronger However, they grew weak when they refused to learn modern ways of fighting.

But alas, all good things must come to pass! Even with the Ottoman Empire! After Suleiman, the empire started a slow decline!

Decline of empire Historians differ on opinions for decline of empire; however, listed are a few of the most accepted reasons… Growth of European trade routes … Wealth of Ottomans was primarily due to trade. Center of their empire stood at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and India. However, as Europe grew they created new trade routes, thus by-passing Ottoman territories. Because Ottomans collected taxes on goods passing along their trade routes, they began to lose a vast amount of income.

Ottomans did not industrialize like the rest of Europe. Thus, trade became unbalanced. Europe was buying only raw materials from Ottomans and shipping back finished goods which they had manufactured. Since these had been produced with new, industrial methods, they were much cheaper than what was produced in the empire. Eventually, the craftsmen were put out of business.

More factors… The empire was constantly fighting wars with expanding European colonialism. Ottomans feared and distrusted new ideas – thus rejected anything new. By the 1800’s the empire was near bankruptcy - couldn’t compete with European trade. Lost much territory after many wars

The end of the empire World War I –Remaining Ottoman Empire sided with Central Powers (Germany) – the losing side of WWI. L to R. Kaiser Wilhelm II, Germany, Enver Pasha Ottoman Empire (Turkey), Emperor Franz Joseph, Austro Hungarian Empire (Austria/Hungary).

During WWI, Ottoman empire consisted of territory that is now - Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates. Some of these territories had been controlled by the Ottomans for more than 1000 years! In your notes, write the 1 st letter of each of the countries listed and then go back and see if you can name them!

However … after World War I, the empire lost control of the Arab lands. France and Britain split up most of the Ottoman’s remaining territories dividing the territories into various nations and maintaining control of these new nations.

Most importantly … New nations created – with no regard to religious, cultural, tribal, and ethnic groups or historical divisions … all of which were very important to Middle Easterns

For example, Lebanon was carved out of territory traditionally ruled by Syria. This is why to this day, Syria tries to control this area.

Various rival ethnic groups were placed together within the country of Iraq. Shia = Shi’ite

Took land that was historically controlled by Iraq and created new country of Kuwait.

Let’s look at the bigger picture … Other than historically controlling this area, why else might Iraq want control of this land?

Let’s look at the bigger picture … Loss of coast line and a major access to the Persian Gulf!

England took control of Iraq and various gulf states, such as Transjordan (today - Jordan). It already had control of Egypt. France received Lebanon and Syria. These moves reneged on the promises of independence that had been made by Britain earlier in the war.

1922 –Turkey was declared a republic … the Ottoman Empire finally came to an end! The end of the empire

3 – countries that at one time were part of the Ottoman Empire 2 – reasons why Ottomans expanded 1 – change that occurred after WWI