Gunpowder Empires Flashcards
Gunpowder Empires
Ottomans / Safavids / Mughals - Empires that utilized gunpowder during warfare
What are the similarities between all of the empires?
Economic Prosperity (all devoted to arts); Strong armies and used gunpowder in warfare
New technology, art, and view to the outside world
Improved artistic traditions; all Islamic states
What are the differences between all of the empires?
Ottomans: Most tolerant empire; Get non-turks to participate in activities
Safavids: Empire that’s the most uninformed and intolerant
Converted everyone to Shia Islam or persecuted non-Muslims
Mughals: Some-what tolerant (depending on the ruler)
At their best when there is a very tolerant government (under Akbar the Great)
Declined when government is intolerant (under Aurangzeb)
Ottomans
Located in Anatolia; Religion: Islam; Militarism over other aspects of life; Powerful bands of soldiers; Osman; Emperor Mehmet II; Suleiman I
Osman
1st Emperor; Prophet dream / vision; Uses legitimacy with Muhammad to assert authority over rivals of Anatolia
Emperor Mehmet II
Conquer territories of Byzantine Empire (Constantinople); Power of strategy and utility of gunpowder in warfare
Suleiman I
Greatest extent of the Ottomans (prosperity); Almost succeeded in conquering Europe and destroying Christendom
Dominant Group in the Ottomans
Turks / (Sunni) Muslims; Islam + Religious Tolerance:
Accepted Islamic laws; Developed tolerance of other religions in their Empire
Importance: More freedom + safety to worship one’s own religion than any other countries
Militarism
Preferring military power and efficiency over other aspects of life
Gazis
Tight and powerful raiding bands of Ottomans (to survive against invasions or looted)
Janissaries
Elite fighting corp of Ottoman army; Children taken from non-Muslim families and converted to Islam; Raised with sole purpose of serving in the army
Roles of Janissaries
Most promising and intelligent / educated ones are close advisors to the sultan; Most Janissaries are in the army / fighting force of the sultan
Sultan
Muslim word for Ruler or King
Pashas / Beys
Janissaries that showed political promise; Responsible for collecting taxes and maintain peace and stability
Why were the Janissaries important?
Success in battle; Chosen to serve the sultan - gave up their entire lives / legally slaves
Why were the Janissaries powerful?
With a combination of incomparable training, skilled with a variety of weapons, and the backing of gunpowder-fueled cannons
Benefits of the Janissaries
Highly privileged in society; Tax privileges, marriage ties, close contact with royal household; Powerful interests with ties
Social mobility in the Ottoman
Locals can join the Janissaries and elevate their rank; More opportunities opened to them
What was the dominant religion in the Ottoman Empire?
Islam - Ottomans were muslims who conquered in the name of Islam
Religious tolerance in the Ottoman Empire
Spirit of Islamic laws; Tolerance of other religions in their empire - Millet system
Millet System
System used by Ottomans - Legal system that declared each religious community was governed by its own religious laws and courts; Jews and Christians had legal protections to worship in their own faiths - More freedom than other countries at the time
Ottoman Art
Calligraphy (in images, showing complexed artisanship; (ceramic) Textiles / Rugs / Carpets (with calligraphy or contrast in color); People with round headwear with round accessory on top
Safavids
Located in Iran / Persia; Capital: Isfahan; Ismail; Shah Abbas I
Ismail / Shah of Azerbaijan / Shah of Iran
Made everyone Shiite Islam; Founder / Leader of the Safavid Sufi order; Twelve Shia Islam - Family was Sunni; Made Shia Islam the state religion; Converted majority of people (Iranians) to Shia Islam or persecuted non-Muslims
Shah Abas I
Recaptured Baghdad from the Ottomans (with outside help); Established Isfahan as capital of Safavids
Religion
Persians; Shia Islam + NO religious tolerance:
Religious unity; Converted most Iranians to Shia Islam; United unorganized elements / people within their territory; Worsened their relationship with Sunni Muslims (Ottomans); Baghdad; Religious unity
Art in Safavids
Royal families with books (people aka Sufi scholars with round white and long black tips headwear); Textiles / Rugs / Carpets (red, orange, or yellow); Hanged up as tapestry
Mughals
Located in India; Babur; Akbar (the Great); Jahan Shah; Aurangzeb
Babur (the Tiger)
Founder; Muslim; 1st to build a Mughal mosque in India (Palace); 1st time cannons are used in battle in India
Akbar (the Great)
Greatest Ruler; Converted Indians to Islam; Synthesis of Islamic and Hindu culture; Religious toleration
Incorporated Hindus (+ other religious groups) into the bureaucracy aka economic and military systems of the empire; Promoted Art -> Increased creativity, achievement, and cultural production; Believes that “no one religion has absolute authority of beliefs”; Established the military services and combination of bureaucracy and army; Expanded empire across Deccan Plateau
Jahan Shah
Constructed the famous Taj Mahal (as tribute to his favorite late wife); Monument of love; Design go back to a time of Sufi Saints; Result of Hindu + Muslim synthesis
Nanak
Guru of Sikhs; Related with Mughals
Aurangzeb
Worst ruler; Despised religious toleration; Asserted forceful Muslim authority over Indians; Collecting taxes; Destroying sacred Hindu sites; Leaves Mughal Empire vulnerable to European exploration
Mir Sayyid Ali
Greatest painter in Islamic World / Safavid and Mughal Empires; Painted Miniatures; Artist that was considered radical by Ismail; Fired by Ismail because he depicted humans in paintings; Moved to Mughal, India
Religion
Muslims (even tho minority is in power); Descended from Turks and Mongols
Art in Mughal
Lots of details / Connection to India; Sikhism
