1. Do Now: What are the elements of a successful empire?
Aim: Where were the Early Ottoman Turks’ able to rise to power in the 14th and 15th centuries?
Do Now: What are the elements of a successful empire?

2. Origin of the Turks
The first Turkic People lived in parts of Central Asia and Siberia as early as the 2nd century BCE.
After migrating west, many Turk tribes spread throughout the continent and adopted various religions, with many becoming Islamic.
The Turks were an important part of the Abbasid Caliphate’s military strength. After the empire’s dissolution, the Seljuks rose to power.
The Seljuk Empire, who defeated the Byzantines in the Battle of Manzikert, declined after the Crusades and Mongol invasions, giving way to the Sultanate of Rum.

3. Who Were the Ottomans?
During the decline of the Seljuk Turks, who were weakened by The Crusades and Mongol invasions, Anatolia (present-day Turkey) was divided into independent beyliks (principalities) of Islamic rule.
The Ottomans, named for the state’s first Sultan Osman I, were originally a set of Turkish-speaking nomadic tribes on the peninsula, whose chiefs united to create a single, centralized state.
Unlike the Seljuks, Mongols, and others, the Ottomans were able to create a more stable, prosperous, and long-lasting empire from a nomadic state.

4. Challenges of a Nomadic State
Traveling lifestyle negatively affected economy
Would attack villages and trade caravans for financial gain.
Never settled to form agricultural stability.
Constant movement made it nearly impossible to levy and collect taxes.
Tribes often aggressively militaristic.
Benefitted from political instability.
Often fought other tribes (and one another) for land.
A constant threat of rebellion to the Sultan.

6. Osman I (r )
Also known as Osman Gazi (meaning “warrior”), Osman I worked to expand his state’s power to the northwest.
Attracted other nomadic gazis, who were influenced by the prospects of economic gain of conquest, as well as the ideas of jihad (‘holy war’).
His conquests laid the foundation for the Ottoman siege of Bursa and Nicaea, the first two major cities of the empire.
By the end of Osman’s reign and that of his son, Orhan, nearly all of northwest Anatolia was under Ottoman control.

7. “Osman’s Dream”
One of the most famous myths of the Ottoman Empire and a part of its literary legacy.
Written in a period after the reign of Osman, most likely during the 15th or 16th century.
What is the significance of this piece of literature to Ottoman society?

8. Early Ottoman Expansion
After Osman, the Ottoman Sultanate continued to absorb the surrounding beyliks through military conquest and politically advantageous unions.
The reign of Murat I ( ) saw Ottoman military power cross into the Balkan peninsula. Military forces took on Christian kingdoms of Serbia, Bulgaria, and Venetian Greece. With this, the Byzantine-Ottoman wars began.
Because of the lack of Turks in the region, the Ottoman state demanded vassalage in some European territories instead of conquest.
After the successful capture of Constantinople by Ottoman forces in 1453, the empire became more prosperous than ever and territorial expansion reached a fever pitch.

9. Expansion during the Classical Age
Under Mehmed I ( ), The Ottomans gained complete control of Constantinople, Bosnia, and Serbia in the west. This conquest essentially ended the reign of the Byzantine Empire.
Selim I ( ) was able to amass a great amount of land during his short reign due to his strategic prowess and stronger support from the Janissaries than that experienced by previous Sultans.
Unlike his predecessors, Selim led a concentrated march east, defeating the Mamluk Empire in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. This put the Ottoman Empire on to doorstep of the Safavids, a nomadic empire of Shia warriors
The reign of Suleiman I ( ) saw the conquest of Iraq, which put virtually all of the Arab Middle East under Ottoman control. In addition, the Ottomans battled the Habsburgs and Venetians for control of the Mediterranean, but to a stalemate.

10. Expansion during the Transformative Age
A series of battles were fought against the Venetians in the west, which resulted in the conquest of Cyprus.
The Ottoman Empire reached the height of its territorial expansion in Europe in 1683.
In 1690, the end of the first Ottoman-Safavid War resulted in the empire’s farthest expansion in Asia and the Middle East
At its peak, the Ottoman Empire encompassed over 2 million square miles between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

11. Mapping out the Empire (Worksheet)
On the worksheet, identify the area which was controlled by the Ottoman Empire in 1683.
Using outside sources, sketch out the present political borders of any nations which currently reside in the area.
Using blue pencils or ink, sketch out and label the rivers mentioned in the excerpt of “Osman’s Dream.”
The Tigris, Euphrates, Nile, and Danube
In addition, label as many bodies of water as you can recognize.
Using the icons in the map key, label the city of Constantinople and the mountain ranges mentioned in the excerpt of “Osman’s Dream”
The Caucasus, Atlas, Taurus, and Balkan ranges.

12. Exit Ticket: Do you believe an empire the size of the Ottoman could ever be sustained? Why or why not?
(2-3 sentences)

13. Aim: What were the military strengths of the Ottoman Empire, and why was the siege of Constantinople a turning point?
Do Now: Why was the city of Constantinople important to the Ottoman and byzantine empires?

14. What is the perspective of the artist?
ART ANALYSIS
What do you see?
What is the perspective of the artist?
Was this map created before or after the siege in 1453?
Are there any elements of this map that are familiar from the Byzantine Empire?

15. History of Constantinople
Established during the Roman Empire by Constantine, the empire’s first Christian ruler
The Muslims made several attempts to capture Constantinople in the past.
After the Great Schism of 1054, the city became the center of the Orthodox church under the Byzantines
The city was known for its strong fortifications.
a series of walls protected it from marching armies and
a great chain across the Bosporus Strait defended harbors from naval attack.

16. Reasons for Ottoman Attack
Economic: Constantinople was perfectly situated between Asia and Europe.
The Black and Aegean Seas both connect to the Mediterranean here.
This resulted in the city being a center of trade between continents.
Military: The Byzantine military was the greatest challenge faced by the Ottomans. A successful siege of Constantinople gave them virtually limitless access to the west.
Social: Constantinople was the birthplace of Roman Christianity and the Eastern Roman Empire. Ottoman victory would be seen as Islamic superiority after the Crusades.

17. Ottoman Military Structure
Early on, there was little distinction between the government and the army; military power and political power were basically the same.
In this period, the Sultan was in direct control of the military through his generals, and would ride into battle with his soldiers.
Much of their military strength depended upon the force of slave armies.
Among these were the Janissaries, an elite fighting force.

18. The Janissaries
Janissaries were slaves of the sultan, taken as children from Christian communities in the empire.
This was an example of the devşirme (‘child tax’) system, which “recruited” Ottoman soldiers and administrators.
Despite the empire’s reputation for religious tolerance, the Janissaries were converted to Islam by force as part of their military training.
Unlike many slaves, the Janissaries could rise in society, often rose through the ranks to become generals and government officials.

19. Military Technology
Since the period of nomadic warriors, the Ottomans have had a military edge.
Archers mounted on horseback used short bows against other nomadic groups during initial conquests.
Gunpowder and artillery (originally Chinese technology), was pivotal in their wars in Europe.
Ottomans used firearms since the Balkan campaigns in the early 15th century.
Giant bronze cannons were pivotal in the campaign against Constantinople.

20. The Ottoman Capture of Constantinople
The campaign lasted nearly two months, from April 5, 1453 to May 29, 1453.
Constantine XI and Sultan Mehmet II led the Byzantine and Ottoman forces, respectively.
The battle was one of Western defenses vs. Eastern ingenuity
Ottoman cannons shot stone balls 2.5 ft in diameter and 1200 lbs in weight at the city walls.
Ottoman ships bypassed the great chain by being rolled into the harbor on greased logs.

22. Constantinople after 1453
After the Ottomans captured the city, it became the Islamic capital of the empire, doing away with over millennium of Roman and Byzantine tradition.
The Hagia Sofia was transformed into a mosque, as a symbol of Islam’s reach into the western world.
The Imperial Court of the Empire was moved to Constantinople, and the Topkapi Palace was built
Though they relied less on trade than the Byzantines, Constantinople allowed the Ottomans to gain much more wealth.

23. 1453 as a Turning Point
Constantinople was the crossroads of trade between Europe and Asia.
While Venetians traded with various Muslim empires, European powers tried to go around the Ottomans.
This inspired the Age of Exploration during the next two centuries.
In attempts to find new trade routes to India, explorers sailing for European monarchies (like Columbus) “discovered” the New World instead.

24. Exit Ticket: Using what you’ve learned, write a brief journal entry about the Siege of Constantinople from the perspective of a Janissary soldier or a Byzantine citizen.

25. Do now: What qualities make a Strong Leader?
Aim: Who were the important leaders of the Ottoman Empire, and was Suleiman the Magnificent deserving of his title?
Do now: What qualities make a Strong Leader?

27. Sultan Osman I (‘The Warrior’)
Ruled the Ottoman Empire from to 1324.
The founder of the Ottoman state
Centralized power among nomadic tribes of Anatolia. Started expansion and bureaucratic system.
His “Dream” is the most important foundational myth in Ottoman culture

29. Sultan Mehmed II (‘The Conqueror’)
Ruled the Ottoman Empire from to 1481.
During his reign, all of Anatolia was placed under Ottoman control.
Commanded the Ottoman forces that took Constantinople, effectively defeated the Byzantine Empire.

31. Sultan Selim I (‘The Grim’)
Ruled the Ottoman Empire from to 1520
Extended the empire to Syria, Palestine, and Egypt
Most important unprecedented level of expansion solidified the Ottomans as leaders in the Muslim world.

34. Aim: Was Suleiman the Magnificent deserving of his title?
Do now: Recall three important facts about Suleiman

35. Exit Ticket: After the debate, do you believe Suleiman is deserving of the title “The Magnificent”? Why or why not?

36. Do Now: What is the importance of law, government, and social order?
Aim: What can art reveal about the legacy and influence of the Ottoman empire, and what factors led to its decline?
Do Now: What is the importance of law, government, and social order?

37. Ottoman Law
There were two forms of law for the majority of the empire’s existence: Sharia Law and The Kanun
Sharia law was a system based on Islamic texts, such as the Qur’an and Hadith. These laws were interpreted and enforced by the Ulema
The Kanun was a secular legal system that concerned taxation, finances, administration, and criminal law. Much of it was codified during the reign of Suleiman
These legal systems were used together, as The Kanun was created to fill the gaps of Sharia.
Much of the secularization of Ottoman law is due to Suleiman, who is still known in the East as ‘Suleiman The Lawgiver’

38. Ottoman Bureaucracy
Osman established the foundations of a bureaucracy which borrowed from both Byzantine and Seljuk tradition.
The Imperial Council advised the Sultan on government matters. This body consisted of a Divan, headed by the Grand Vizier (Prime Minister) and several lesser viziers, who were often the elite governors of Ottoman territories.
Also present in the Imperial Council were representatives of the millet systems, who determined laws for non-Muslims in the empire.

39. Individual Religious Millets
Ottoman Bureaucracy
SULTAN
DIVANS
Social/Military
Divans
Individual Religious Millets
Local Administrators
Greek Christians
Armenian Christians
Jews
Landowners &
Tax Collectors

40. Ottoman Society
Due to territorial expansion, The Ottoman population expanded greatly. However, the society was know to be one of religious tolerance:
The Millet system allowed monotheistic persons to coexist within the Ottoman empire as minorities with their own religious laws.
There were four social classifications in Ottoman society:
“Men of the Sword”: Soldiers
“Men of the Pen”: Scientists, Lawyers, Judges, Poets.
“Men of Negotiation”: Merchants, Tax Collectors, Artisans
“Men of Husbandry”: Farmers, Herders

41. Gallery Walk
In six groups, we will look at six stations depicting Ottoman art, architecture, and crafts. After seven minutes of doing so, we will rotate.
For each piece, read the label and determine whether that work is an example of the Ottoman legacy of:
Politics
Religion
Economics
Military Power
Culture
In addition, each station will have examples of cultural diffusion, as well as reveal one reason why the Ottoman state began its initial decline. Work together as a group to find them.

42. Political Reasons for Decline
The empire was too large. Regional governments pulled away from the sultan and the sultan’s slaves (from the devsirme system) gained more power.
After Suleiman, a string of poorly prepared sultans began their reigns
Suleiman’s son, Selim II, was widely acknowledged as “… a drunkard and an idiot.”
In many cases, the strongest leaders of the 16th and 17th centuries came from the Imperial Harem.
Ottoman Janissaries, discontent with the quality of leadership, began to rebel against the state
The Janissary Revolt of 1622 marks a pivotal moment in the decline of the Ottoman State.

43. Military Reasons for Decline
Naval defeat in the Battle of Lepanto in against Christian forces shook the image of Ottoman invincibility.
The Ottoman navy would remain strong, but the symbolic value of this event was powerful
In the early 1600s, the Ottomans were driven out of their lands in the east by the Safavids.
The failure of the Siege of Vienna against the Habsburgs in 1683 marked the end of Ottoman expansion in Europe.

44. Economic Reasons for Decline
Trade revenue was directly linked to the ability of the administration. After Suleiman, this became a significant issue.
During the Age of Exploration, the discovery of new passages to India and the New World by European powers weakened the Ottoman economy
Ottomans collected high taxes on Asian goods bound for Europe. With fewer ships using their trade routes, they collected less wealth.
Precious metals from the New World created inflation, as the Ottoman economy was based on silver.

45. Exit Ticket:
1. Did you have a favorite station or art piece in today’s activity?
2. Considering what you’ve learned about the decline of the Ottoman Empire, could something have been done to change it? Why or why not?