State-Society Relations in the Ottoman era: A very brief overview

Ottoman basics: who, what, when One of the world’s biggest and longest-lived empires Muslim Turkish dynasty: Osmanlılar Territory from Europe to N. Africa The fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans, 1453.

Mehmet II departs for Constantinople

Map of the Ottoman Empire at its height

Ottoman Empire and Tributary States, 1566 to 1700

Basic Ottoman State Functions Defend the borders of the empire Protect the faith Collect taxes Maintain public peace

How does this differ from the function of modern states?

State-society relations, in a nutshell multi-ethnic empire State did NOT attempt to create cultural conformity. Ruling classes from many ethnic groups and religions multi-lingual empire Main language at court: Ottoman Turkish Also Arabic, Persian Everyday language: your choice Decentralized State largely ruled through governors and local notable families Large amounts of local autonomy Center-periphery relations rather than horizontal between communities

Linking State and Society Taxes and land Tax farming Nearly all land owned by the state (until 18 th - 19 th c.) Religious institutes and religious frameworks Islam as a unifying medium Justice: state-society compact Administration state-provincial relations

Status of non-Muslims under Ottoman rule Superior legal status accorded to Muslims Dhimmis – special protection for “people of the book” Special taxes Some restrictions on building, etc. The Millet system Semi-autonomous religious communities (Greeks, Armenians, Jews)

How does this compare to the treatment of religious minorities in Europe at this time?

Basic divisions in society not between ethnic/religious groups but between the ruling class (Asker) & the ruled (reaya, the “flock”)

Asker (ruling classes) Sultan/Caliph Vizier and Pasha Bureaucracy/civil service Local notables (ayan) Ulema –Muslim religious elite Military – Janissaries (paid standing army loyal to Sultan) An Ottoman cavalry man in the late 17 th century.

Society, and other reps of state Settled peasants and villagers Tribes Some nomadic, some settled Prominent families scholars and clerics Sufi brotherhoods (tarikat) Merchants, Guilds Other Ottoman officials in the provinces – judges, governors, financial officials, rural police

Diversity in Dress: Images of women from the late Ottoman Empire. From Racinet’s Historic Costume.

Sixteenth century war prisoners and the condemned being marched to prison at Topkapi Palace. Source:

3 phases of Ottoman state-society relations 1. Rise, expansion, and consolidation of Ottoman state, transformation of the state and territorial retraction, State withdrawal from social life. Many provinces virtually autonomous. 3. Long 19th century,