1. The Gunpowder Empires (1400-1800)
Nomadic Invasions by Mongols led to changes in the Muslim world
Mughals
Ottomans
Safavids
Competition led to important political and military clashes…challenge for power

3. CONTEXT: How can we characterize this period in world history?
Bridge between ancient & early modern history
Islamic power shift from Arab Muslims to ethnically Turkic Muslims
Use of gunpowder & other new technologies for conquest (“gunpowder empires”)
Cultural, artistic, & architectural developments still impact regions conquered

4. Your Task: We will be learning about the 3 “gunpowder empires”
You will work to create a Google slideshow that serves as an overview of each empire
After viewing each group’s slideshow, fill in the Venn diagram & the timeline for homework
It must be complete by the time we finish studying all 3 empires

5. TIPS FOR VENN DIAGRAM Use the GREATS as a guide
Try to answer the following questions as well (can overlap with GREATS):
How did they conquer?
How did they treat different religions?
What were their major accomplishments?
Why did they decline?
Why are they important today?

6. Ottoman Empire at Greatest Extent c. 1699

7. OTTOMAN EMPIRE (1281-1922) Longest lasting & most successful
1281: founded by Osman (ghazi)
Later rulers:
Muslims required to do military service
Non-Muslims paid jizya
Conquered peoples generally treated well
Osman was militaristic, used cannons, walled cities… fought against Seljuks… was a ghazi

8. CONQUEST OF CONSTANTINOPLE
Mehmet II conquers Constantinople in 1453
Cannons
Hagia Sofia

9. Golden Age of Suleiman 1520-1566
Expansion
Military leadership
Naval power
Conquest of Europe Vienna)
Social organization
Large bureaucracy
Janissaries
Devshirme
Millets
Cultural Achievements
Sharia, religious tolerance
Efficient taxation/bureaucracy
Mosque of Suleiman
Blending of Turkish artistic styles with those of conquered peoples

10. Decline Incapable leaders fearful of losing power
Oppressive policies & taxation peasant discontent and rebellion
Economic decline - illegal trade, inflation
Naval power defeated in Spain and Italy (Battle of Lepanto )
Dissolved with the creation of the nation of Turkey in 1923, after World War I

11. SAFAVID EMPIRE (1501-1722) Saf al-Din (founder) Iranian origin
Shiite Islam
Persecuted on religious grounds by Ottoman Sunni Muslims
Powerful army to protect themselves on both sides

12. Leadership Ismai’il – strong warrior, 1499
Shiite Islam as state religion in Iran - no religious freedom
Ottomans and Safavids disagree on religious tolerance
Ismai’il destroys Baghdad and kills Sunnis
Sunnis kill Shiites in Ottoman Empire
Battle/conquest Golden Age
“redheads”
Ismai’il: 14 years old
Seized what is now Iran
Shah as title
Order death to anyone who does not covert
Selim the Grim did the same to Shi’a in Ottoman empire

13. Golden Age of Shah Abbas: 1587
Cultural blending w/Ottoman, Persian & Arab worlds
Isfahan
Relations w/Europe & China
Persian carpets
Military reforms (Persian & Christian armies created)
Modern weaponry
Punished corruption, emphasized loyalty
Chinese artisans brought, collaboration gave rise to fabulous artwork, rebuild capital city of Isfanhan
Carpets: local craft to national industry

14. ISFAHAN

15. Decline Need for power Incompetent leaders Peasant discontent
Tribal armies from Afghanistan taking over area
Sunni family took control, but was unsuccessful
Safavids died politically, but never culturally - left behind a strong Persian cultural legacy
Killing family members to keep another from claiming power
Tribal armies from Afghanistan taking over E portions of Safavid realm, Ottomans from the west
Nadir Shah Afshar: Sunni

16. MUGHAL EMPIRE (1526-1707) Mughals = “Mongols”
Muslims in India since 700s
Delhi Sultanate
1398: Tamerlane invades
Ethnic & religious conflic follows
1526: Babur founds empire
Gupta collapse, Arabs invasion, Muslim tribes from Asia, rulers Rajputs
White area Mughal

17. Golden Age of Akbar: 1556-1605 Cultural developments Urdu created
“Miniatures”
Akbar period architecture
Literary achievements
Religious tolerance
Bureaucracy included diverse officers
Akbar’s wives
Grandson of Babur: Akbar
Fair taxation
Abolished jizya
Graduated income tax
Conquest of India
Gunpowder
Rajput officers

18. MUGHAL EXPANSION

19. After Akbar 1611-1622: Jahangir & Nur Jahan Less religious tolerance
Mughals v. Sikhs
: Shah Jahan
Hated political competition
Taj Mahal
: Aurangzeb
Military leader and empire builder
Oppressive
Enforced Islamic laws
Outraged Hindus
Nur Jahan: Persian princess with variety of interests
Brilliant politician who understood use of power, religious problem with sons
Sikhs: blending of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sufism (Islamic mysticism)
Shah Jahan: two loves, wife and architecture; when wife died, giving birth to their 14th child, ordered building of tomb: Taj Mahal

20. Decline Rajputs rebel! Wars for conquest cost $$taxes Famine
No loyalty to leader
Weakened central state, power of local lords grew
Ended in a patchwork of independent states
Trade with Europeans - India’s next conquerors

21. CONNECTIONS & PREDICTIONS
What similarities do you notice so far between the three “gunpowder empires?”
What seems to be the most important effects of the conquests by the “gunpowder empires?”