Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean 1. The Ottoman Empire a. This empire was founded around 1300 b. Extended Islamic conquests into eastern Europe c. Was more similar to monarchs in France and Spain than Islamic Caliphates

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean 2. Expansion and Frontiers a. Three factors for major growth i. The shrewdness of its founded Osmam and his descendants ii. Control of a strategic link between Europe and Asia at Gallipoli on the Dardanelles strait iii. The creation of an army that took advantage of the traditional skills of the Turkish cavalryman and the new military possibilities presented by gunpowder

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean b. At first, Ottoman armies concentrated on Christian enemies in Greece and the Balkans c. They then wanted to capture the Byzantine capital of Constantinople i. In 1453, the city was captured thanks to new gunpowder technology ii. Constantinople then became Istanbul

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean d. Suleiman the Magnificent i. Ruled during the “golden age” of Ottoman imperial power ii. Conquered many European cities iii. Unable to conquer Vienna due to the weather

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean e. Between 1453 and 1502, the Ottomans fought the opening rounds of a two-century war with Venice in Italy i. The Ottomans wanted power over of valuable trade routes that the Italians controlled ii. Venice forced to pay tribute to the Ottomans but remained a sea empire f. Tried to stop the spread of Portuguese trade in the Middle East by limiting their influence to the coastal cities

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean 3. Central Institutions a. Army consisted of lightly armored mounted warriors skilled at shooting a short bow b. Christian prisoners of war were forced to serve as military slaves

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean i. These troops converted to Islam and were called Janissaries ii. This practice was not necessarily legal according to Islamic law iii. These soldiers had no problems fighting Turks and Muslims in Western Asia

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean iv. Did not have the same horse/bow background, fought on foot and with guns v. These Janissaries were barred from marriage or holding other jobs

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean c. In the early 15 th century, the selection process for Janissary training changed and the new system was called devshirme (selection) i. This meant that children were taken from Christian villages and placed in Turkish homes to learn their language ii. They were then sent to Istanbul to be trained in Islam, warfare, etc. iii. This system produced many military commanders and heads of government departments

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean d. The Ottoman Empire was the most powerful and best-organized state in either Europe or the Islamic world during the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent e. The Ottoman conception of the world saw the sultan providing justice for his “flock of sheep” (raya) and the military protecting them f. In return, the raya paid the taxes that supported both the sultan and the military

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean D. Crisis of the Military State ( ) i. More emphasis placed on Janissary corps and guns, less on the Turkish cavalry, leading to the need to collect more money to pay for these guns ii. An influx of silver from the new world further weakened the position of the land- owning cavalry soldiers

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean iii. Between 1590 and 1610 there were revolts by former land-holding cavalrymen, short-term soldiers released and out of work, peasants overburdened with emergency taxes, and even impoverished students of religion iv. Janissaries took advantage of the situation to gain the ability to participate in business and marry

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean 5. Economic Change and Growing Weakness ( ) a. After this time of crisis, the Ottoman Empire was very different i. The sultan mostly resided in his palace and had little experience of the real world ii. Janissaries corps membership was now hereditary iii. Land grants in return for military service also disappeared b. Ottoman military continued to decline i.Janissaries sometimes resorted to hiring substitutes to go on campaign

Southwest Asia and the Indian Ocean c. The Ottoman Empire lacked both the wealth and inclination to match European economic advances d. The Tulip Period lasted from 1718 to 1730 and was so named because of the craze for high priced tulip bulbs that swept Ottoman ruling circles i. The Ottomans did not see Europeans as a threat to their power and actually borrowed their furniture and clothing styles