Chapter 28 Islamic Empires

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Chapter 28 Islamic Empires

• Ottoman, Safavid Mughal

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So called Gunpowder Empires

• All 3 empires are nomadic Turkish from the
  steppes of central Asia
• Retain tradition but adapt to city based
  agricultural societies they conquered
• Ottoman conquer Anatolia, Safavid - Persia and
  Mughal India
• All 3 Islam
• Height 16th early 17th century
• Mid 17th century cease to expand (their man
  source of wealth) also waste money on war lack
  of investment in infrastructure

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Problems of multi-ethnic empires

• When conservative Muslim leaders want to impose
  strict Islam they faced resentment from minority
  populations

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Ottoman Empire 1289-1923

• Osman and his followers were Sunni Muslims and
  ghazi, or religious warriors
• Expand from base at Edirne expand into Balkans
• Plunder and land grants finance their regime
  (like Daimyo and knights)

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Devshirme

• Orthodox Christian Balkan boys taken as slaves
  converted to Islam
• From there they either enter bureaucracy or the
  military as Janissaries

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Under Mehmet II

• Tightly centralized absolute monarchy governed
  from Istanbul (after Byzantine Empire is defeated
  in 1453)
• Conquers Serbia, Greece, Albania Genoese ports
  in Crimea.
• Long naval war with Venice

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Under Suleyman the lawgiver 1512 - 20

• Get to gates of Vienna v Habsburg
• Inherit Mamluk navy
• Challenge Portugese in Red Sea Indian Ocean

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Safavid

• Shah Ismails (1501-24) qizilbash warriors
  Twelver Shiism which they force on Sunni
  population
• Produce hatred among Ottoman Sunnis who fear the
  spread of the Twelvers.
• In turn, Ottoman ruler, Selim the Grim persecutes
  Shiites in Ottoman Empire

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Ottomans defeat Sunnis at Chaldiran in 1514

• Shah Abbas the Great revives the Safavid
  1588-1624
• He seeks European help v Ottoman

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Mughal Empire

• Babur no religious pretense like the other
  empires - conquers Delhi in 1526
• His grandson was Akbar 1556-1605 dictator
  destroys Hindu Empire of Vijayanagar.
• Religiously tolerant encourages syncretic Islam -
  Hindu faith (Sikh)

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Mughals reach height under Aurangzeb

• Hes a devout Muslim and sacks Hindu temples
• Head tax on Hindus (like Caliphate)

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All 3 empires were military creations

• Empires seen as personal property of rulers by
  right of conflict reflecting steppe traditions
• Bloody succession struggles (based on charismatic
  leader)
• Women are important in fact if not tradition
  (Chinggis Kahns wife and mother)

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Agriculture and Trade

• Agriculture used to finance armies bureaucracy
• Usually wheat rice
• Columbian Exchange had less of a dramatic effect
  (except tobacco coffee) than in China for
  instance

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Demography

• India 105M - 1500gtgt135M -1600 165 M - 1700 190M
  - 1800
• Ottoman increase (-28M 1500-1600 mainly from
  conquest

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Active Participation in global trade

• Ottomans give trading concessions to England
  France.
• Safavids - English E. India Co., French E India
  Co. get concessions
• Mughals concentrate on internal trade and its
  land (not naval) empire. Allow Portugese,
  English, French Dutch trading station

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Mughals

• Non Muslims protected people dhimmi pay jizya
  handle own legal affairs.
• Toleration not popular among conservative Muslims
  Arangzeb ends toleration

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All 3 Empires

• Emphasize emperors prestige via public works and
  the patronage of scholars
• Many splendid architectural wonders - Taj Mahal,
  Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sofia in Istanbul

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Transition

• Safavid disappear Mughals - by 1750 British rule
  India and, 1700 O.Empire lose control of Lebanon
  Egypt

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Reasons for downfall

• Incompetent rulers (as China)
• Infighting in royal houses promoting mutinies and
  provincial revolts
• Religious tensions caused by conservative Muslims
  including Wahhabi Movement (now in Saudi Arabia)
  call Ottoman dangerous innovators. Gets rulers
  to pull plug on printing press and astronomy

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Causes of Downfall

• Loss of foreign trade to Europeans
• High cost of military bureaucracy
• Once military expansion slows they raise money by
  upping taxes, selling public offices and bribes
• Content to allow European penetration without
  projecting their products as exports

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Causes of Downfall

• No native armaments guns/cannons they have grow
  obsolete
• Conservative ethos - few Muslims travel to
  infidel lands of the Franks
• Feel W. European innovations are impious and
  unneeded
• Like Ming, Qing Tokagawa resist introduction of
  cultural, scientific and philosophic influences
  from W. Europe