Gunpowder Empires 1450-1750

Question 1

Ottoman use of Gunpowder

Answer 1

Ottoman Janissaries were given guns and cannons. Also used gunpowder to push italians out of eastern Mediterranean. They weren’t conquered by Christians due to having gunpowder weapons. Also used gunpowder to capture Swahili City-states, like Zanzibar and port of Gao from Portugal.

Question 2

Safavid use of Gunpowder

Answer 2

Safavids thought that gunpowder was “un-manly” and didn’t use it. They were armed with swords and the idea that Shah Ismail had guaranteed them a win from Allah. During Shah Abbas I, which was the peak of power, they trained Russian boys/salve infantrymen with firearms, since it was now a “compete or die” situation. By the use of guilds and artisans, they had money for gunpowder from Europeans.

Question 3

Mughal use of Gunpowder

Answer 3

Babur, a Chagatai Turk left central Asia with gunpowder weapons and cannons, invading and conquering rajas in/and Delhi in 1526. They had no real use for gunpowder since they weren’t as concerned with the religion of state as much as the wealth their Empire created.

Question 4

Islam and Ottoman armies

Answer 4

Had a cavalry of infantry men/tribal leaders. They also had Christian boys as Balkan slave troops, called the Devshirme. Also had Janissaries that were the new troops. Had the reputation of extreme loyalty, readiness to imply new technology in battles and sieges. They used guns and cannons.

Question 5

Omani
Empire

Answer 5

Omani merchants received little state support and suffered from Piracy and European attacks. Omani rulers were able to create a more stable government by uniting people’s warring tribes. Expelled the portuguese out of Muscat in 1650, creating a large amount control over persian gulf and wealth. Eventually took control of portuguese ports in the Swahili region. Exported ivory and slaves to work as servants on Omani date plantations. The Omani empire is an example of the intense national rivalries that drove exploration, trade and conflict.

Question 6

Omani
Conflict with other empires

Answer 6

The omani fought against the European growth and dominance in the region. They carried a military campaign to expel the portuguese out of the Muscat. They continued their attacks on the Portuguese and took control of all their ports in the Swahili region.

Question 7

Ottoman Centralization
Ottoman Devshirme

Answer 7

Their military was comprised of Christian boys as Balkan Slave Troops. They were slaves of the sultan and had special training, were taught Turkish, and were forced to convert to Islam

Question 8

Ottoman centralization
Ottoman Janissary

Answer 8

They were the new troops and had a reputation of extreme loyalty, and readiness to imply new technologies in battles and sieges. Were given guns and cannons. Some became bureaucrats. janissaries were the new social elite.

Question 9

Safavid army

Answer 9

During Shah Abbas I’s rule, they had a slave infantry trained with firearms. They had a land-based power system. Turks and Russians were the head of the army. They had military prowess as a key part of their administration

Question 10

Safavid administration

Answer 10

military prowess and religious piety were the 2 key components. Shahs were absolute rulers with power over the military. Owned all land and gave it to peasants/nobles on hereditary basis. Shahs were keepers of Shi’ism, able to help legitimize their power through religion. There were mentions of Shah in prayers

Question 11

Mughal administration

Answer 11

Emperors and Rajas. Emperor rules through provincial governors. Zamindars were educated servants who collected taxes from Ryots (peasants). Enforce Sharia law and police area. Some Zamindars were allowed to keep some of the taxes they collected and given land grants.

Question 12

Ottoman Legitimization
Ottoman use of religion to legitimize rule

Answer 12

The building of large scale public works helped promote Sunni ideas and helped legitimize rule. Invited religions scholars, architects, artists to the city to study. Made large mosques like the hagia Sophia, as well as Minarets (towers on mosques where a muezzin calls prayer.

Question 13

Ottoman Legitimization
Ottoman use of art and architecture to legitimize rule

Answer 13

Restored cities, built roads, palaces, hospitals and schools. Books were written about greatness of Istanbul. Sponsored artists to illustrate books to show off their wealth. They also made aqueducts.

Question 14

Safavid Legitimization
Twelver Shi’a Islam

Answer 14

It was the officail religion of Safavids. Ismail was the head of the army and claimed ancient persia. Believed that there were twelve infallible Imams/Relgious leaders after Muhammad, and many thought that Ismail was the hidden Imam or the reincarnation of Allah.

Question 15

Safavid legitimization
Support for the Shah from Red Hats

Answer 15

Ismail’s father gathered all his turkish supporters and instructed them to weather red hats, becoming known as the Qizilbash. They wholeheartedly believed Ismeil would make them invincible in battle.

Question 16

Safavid legitimization
Shah’s use of mullahs

Answer 16

Mullahs were local mosque officials and prayer leaders who were supervised and supported by the state (bureaucrats). Forced other to convert to Shi’a islam or to die

Question 17

Ottoman taxation method to increase centralization

Answer 17

The Devshirme were like a human tax. Jews and christians were left alone as long as they pay the jizya tax. The peasants were overtaxed by bureaucrats who pocketed the money without permission.

Question 18

Mughal taxation method

Answer 18

Mughals hire educated servants (zamindars) to collect taxes from Ryots (peasants). Were allowed to collect some of the money and were given land grants. During Shah Aurangzeb’s reign, he reinstated the Jizya tax on hindus after his grandfather’s, Akbar’s, death.

Question 19

Safavid conflict with Ottomans and Mughals

Answer 19

because of Safavid Twelver Shiism religion, they had conflict with the Ottomans sunni powerbase. Persecuted and outlawed Sunni islam. During the battle of Chaldiran (1514), the Ottomans persecuted Shiites and prepared to invade Safavid empire with Janissaries. The Safavid lose since they didn’t use gunpowder weapons. Ittermiddent battles with the Shiite today in Ira/Iraq, surrounded by Sinni state.

Question 20

Sikhism (syncretic)
Aspects from Islam

Answer 20

Monotheistic, had alms, and rejected caste system

Question 21

Sikhism (syncretic)
Aspects from hinduism

Answer 21

Believed in salvation through meditation, salvation is unity with all encompassing god, and devotional cult similarities

Question 22

Sikhism (syncretic)
Aspects from buddhism

Answer 22

selfishness (greed, attachment) distracts them from salvation

Question 23

European gain control of ports in India

Answer 23

he Ottomans lost Indian ocean ports to Portuguese because of sailing innovations. The Mughals allowed merchants from Portugal, England, France, and the Netherlands to form trading companies. European presence was starting to be felt at ports.

Question 24

Artisans in the safavid Empire

Answer 24

State promoted guilds to produce Safavid silk, capets, and persian rugs in small artisan shops. Created a lot of wealth and trade.

Question 25

Peasant labor in Mughal empire

Answer 25

Produces cotton from intensive production by the peasants. Peasants were taxed

Question 26

Ottoman Economy
Importance of location on Trade

Answer 26

Were able to control trade routes to the East. They were the middlemen that Europeans tried to avoid. Were able to make a lot of money as the luxury products reach Europe.

Question 27

Ottoman Economy
Later decline in trade

Answer 27

New routes to asia hearts their wealth as europeans looked to get rid of the middle men, such as Vasco de Gama’s way into the Indian Ocean over the Southern tip of Africa.

Question 28

Ottoman economy
Bazaar

Answer 28

Bazaars helped to stimulate trade through most of the East and Mediterranean. They were large markets with different stalls filled with all kinds of goods.

Question 29

Ottoman economy
Export

Answer 29

Rugs, tiles, pottery

Question 30

Ottoman economy
Imports from America

Answer 30

Columbian exchange brought American crops like maize, potatoes, and tomatoes. Maize was for animal stock. Consumed coffee and tobacco from Ethiopia, making Coffee houses a thing where Muslims could drink coffee and pipe smoke tobacco.

Question 31

Reasons Christianity did not spread to the Islamic world

Answer 31

They were already exposed a lot to Christian trade. They have islam and that was all thye needed. They weren’t conquered because they had gunpowder weapons from the East.

Question 32

Wahhabi Movement

Answer 32

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab was an orthodox mulsim who was upset by common religious practices, like the veneration of Sufi saints, adoration nof natural sites, and respecting Muhammad’s tomb. Thought it was diluting the monotheism of authentic Islam, as well as thinking Europeans were backward and immoral. Tombs of other “idols” were destroyed, tobacco, hashish, and instruments were forbidden. Control over women was strengthened as they embraced conservatism. Not allowed to print in turkish or Arabic, making them untouched by the print revolution.

Question 33

Maratha Rebellion

Answer 33

Aurangzeb was a Mughal military leader who wanted to conquer new territories, undoing most work on religious tolerance by taxing non-mulims and razing hindu temples. The empire was decentralized with many states and towns being managed by hindu nobles. Shivaji took action since Aurangzeb was focused on defending borders. He engaged in guerrilla warfare and military prowess. He had amassed several hundred forts in Southern India and established a navy. Succession wars ensued after Aurangzeb’s death, letting Marathans take a lot of mughal territory.

Question 34

Ottoman treatment of Jews and Christians

Answer 34

They were always at conflict with Byzantine Empire. They took Christian boys as troops called the Devshirme. Jews and Christians had to pay a tax.

Question 35

Mughal treatment of Hindus

Answer 35

During Akbar’s rule, he encouraged intermarraige between Hindu’s and mulsims. He eliminated Jizya tax on Hindus. But Aurangzeb persecuted Hindus after his death, reinstating hindus and causing the Marathan revolt to his backward actions. Hindu temples were often razed.

Question 36

Challenges to old elite in Ottoman Empire

Answer 36

Janissaries were the new social elite as they were extremely loyal and readiness to use new technology. Wanted higher salaries and political power. Old elites, such as Ulamas, Tribal leaders, and Cavalrymen were displaced to the Janissaries, causing unrest.

Question 37

Safavid treatment of Sunni Muslims

Answer 37

Persecuted Sunni Islams and outlawed it. They had conflict with Ottomans sunni powerbase. Had many expensive battles between the Shi’a and Sunni.

Question 38

Mughal treatment of Hindus after Akbar

Answer 38

Tolerance of religion goes away after his death. Aurangzeb forces government to persecute hindus. Child brides are again accepted as well as Sati.

Question 39

Challenges to old elite in Mughal empire

Answer 39

Mughals hire educated servants (zamindars) to collect taxes from Ryots (peasants), and are allowed to keep some of the taxes they collect and are given land grants.