1. ISLAMIC GUNPOWDER EMPIRES

2. Do Now: Rise and Fall of Empires
Reasons for Rise
Reasons for fall

3. AGE OF GUNPOWDER EMPIRES 1450 – 1800 CHANGED THE BALANCE OF POWER
This term applies to a number of states, all of which rapidly expanded during the late 15th and over the entire 16th century. Most significant were Portugal, Spain, the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid Empire, and the Mughal Empire but also included England, France, Tokugawa (Japan), Romanov Russia, and Ming/Manchu (Qing) China

5. THE ISLAMIC EMPIRES
Three Islamic Empires dominate from southern Europe to Northern India from
Ottoman Empire (Balkans, Middle East, North Africa, & Eastern Europe)
Safavid Empire (Persia); Shia Islam
Mughal Empire (Northern India)-had lasting Islamic cultural impact

6. Common Characteristics
Religion (of the rulers at least…)
All three Islamic empires were military creations
Governing
Autocratic: emperors imposed their will on the state
Ongoing problems with royal succession
Ottoman rulers legally killed brothers after taking the throne
Influence of Royal and Upper-Class Women
Harem
Harem politics: women often influenced policies, selections

7. OTTOMAN EMPIRE

8. RISE OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE Founded in 1289 by Osman
Later Expand into outer regions of Byzantine Empire
Successful b/c of gunpowder in early sieges
Use of Janissary Corps
Christian troops raised by Ottomans
Were slaves, but paid well
Provided for by Gov – Loyal
Gunpowder weapons
14th-15th centuries: Expand into South Eastern Europe
1453: Conquer Constantinople
Under the leadership of Mehmed II (r )
Absolute monarchy; centralized state

9. Politics of the ottoman empire
Sultans control politics and economy
Promoted religious toleration to “People of the Books”
Separate themselves from the masses
Sultans will promote cultural heritage and development
Architecture
Coffeehouses

10. Ottoman SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Four Main Social Groups:
Men of the pen
Men of the sword
Men of negotiations
Men of husbandry
Social Mobility becomes more rigid over time
Women had no rights aside from tradition, class, husbands’ wishes

11. THE ottoman MILLET system
Millet System: Different communities based on religion throughout the empire
Each millet was headed by its own religious dignitary
Advised sultan on affairs in the community
Was punished by sultan for problems of the community
In the millet system each community was responsible for
Taxes
Education
Legal Matters: Marriage, Divorce, Inheritance

12. SULEYMAN THE MAGNIFICENT
Empire at its height under Suleyman
Reigned
Conquered lands in Europe, Asia, Africa
Syria, modern-day Israel, Egypt
Hungary, Croatia, Rumania
Siege of Vienna (Austria) in 1529 failed
Built powerful navy to rule Mediterranean
Encouraged development of arts
Beautified Constantinople with mosques
Empire began a slow decline after Suleyman

13. WHAT WERE THE CAUSES OF OTTOMAN DECLINE IN THE 17TH CENTURY?
Reached limits of expansive power early on
Too large to be maintained
High taxes on peasants
corruption of govt. officials & weak rulers Rebellions
Declining position of women

14. Achievements of Muslim Empires
Math and Astronomy
Indian System (0-9)
Algebra
Maps
Sunrise/sunset times
Physics in Chemistry
Optics
Alchemy
Biology and Medicine
Opened body for study
Hospitals (Free)
Medicine
Kept records
Trained physicians
Medical Encyclopedias
TOOK GREEK KNOWLEDGE FORWARD – RENAISSACNE

15. Safavid persia ( )

16. Origins of the safavid empire
Founder: Shah Ismail (r )
Conquers much of modern-day Iran and Iraq
Title “Shah” was originally used by ancient Persian dynasties
Shi’a Islam
Religiously intolerant – forced conversion
Tries to convert Sunni Muslims in Ottoman Empire

17. Shah abbas the great (r. 1588-1629)
Greatest of all Safavid leaders
Went to war with Ottoman Empire to regain territories lost in earlier battles
Safavids fail at this effort BUT, they sign a peace treaty with the Ottomans (1612) and regain some territory
Modernized military
Made Alliances with Europe
Invited European merchants into country
Created strong bureaucracy

18. Safavid society and economy/culture
Traditional Social Structure
Women are forced to wear the veil and live in seclusion
Young boys kidnapped and enslaved (like Janissaries)
Strong emphasis on artisans, engineers and merchants
Main Exports: Silk items and Persian rugs
Government invests money in cultural achievements
Isfahan (capital)
Architecture (City planning; mosques)
Literature, poetry and music

19. Decline of the safavid empire
Leaders kept in seclusion from the people
Inept leadership
Invaded by nomadic tribes in 1722
Gets caught in the middle of many territorial and political battles

20. The Mughal Empire
Zahir al-Din Muhammad (Babur) invaded northern India in 1523
Descendant of Chinggis Khan Conquered Delhi in 1526
Controlled empire extending from Afghanistan to most of India

22. The Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire expanded under Akbar the Great (r )
Established Mughal (“Mongol”) Dynasty Ruled with absolute power
Established a centralized government Took personal power
Expanded empire into southern India Tolerant of many religions
Tried to reduce tensions between Hindus and Muslims Encouraged “Divine Faith” which focused on the emperor

23. The Mughal Empire Empire reached peak under Aurangzeb (r. 1659-1707)
Expanded Mughal Empire to its greatest extent
Almost all of India except southern tip
Did not follow Akbar’s policy of toleration
Imposed Islam on empire Destroyed Hindu temples Taxed Hindus
Caused further resentment among Hindus

24. Mughal Culture Akbar’s tolerant policies helped unify the empire.
A conflict of cultures led to the end of this empire, but resulted in a culture unique to the Mughal Empire.
Cultures that blended in the empire included Muslims
Hindus
Persians Indians

25. Failure of Mughal Dynasty
After Akbar needed reforms ignored
Government bureaucracy corrupt
Army behind in weaponry & tactics technology too many building projects
Less religious tolerance Empire becomes too large internal rebellions
Rulers extravagant & pleasure seeking

26. Similarities and differences between Islamic gunpowder empires

27. WHAT WERE THE SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE THREE MUSLIM EMPIRES?
CONTINUITIES
origins in in Turkic nomadic raiders of Central Asia based on military conquest
effective use of firearms and siege warfare – “Gunpowder Empires”
ruled by a succession of absolute monarchs
OTTOMAN
-Anatolia Peninsula, Europe & Nth Africa
-religious fervor & zeal for Islamic
conversion
-Sunni Muslim
SAFAVID
-Persia (Iran)
-religious fervor & zeal
for Islamic conversion
-mostly Muslim
-Shi’ia (Shiite)Muslim
MUGHAL
-Northern India
-rule pre-dominantly
non-Muslim population
DIFFERENCES
-Sunni/Shi’ia enmity (hatred) meant warring over territory & persecuting adherents of rival brand of Islam
- leads to varying religious practices, legal codes & social organization

28. Common weaknesses succession problems imperial central power weakens
failure to adapt Western military & scientific advances
rulers better at conquests than administration rulers too interested in pleasure seeking
too much building
peasants not taken care of-taxes

29. culture Sponsored arts and public works Istanbul Isfahan
Golden Age of Islamic art, architecture
Mosques, palaces, schools, hospitals, caravanserais
Istanbul
Ottoman capital, a bustling city of a million people
Topkapi palace housed government, sultan's residence
Suleyman blended Islamic, Byzantine architecture
Isfahan
Safavid capital
The "queen of Persian cities“
The central mosque is a wonder of architecture
Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal capital, created by Akbar
Combined Islamic style with Indian elements
Site abandoned because of bad water supply
Taj Mahal, exquisite example of Mughal architecture