Early Modern Middle East and Asia

Mr. Stikes

SSWH12 The student will examine the origins and contributions of the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires.

• a. Describe the geographical extent of the Ottoman Empire during the rule of Suleyman the Magnificent, the Safavid Empire during the reign of Shah Abbas I, and the Mughal Empire during the reigns of Babur and Akbar.

• b. Explain the ways in which these Muslim empires influenced religion, law, and the arts in their parts of the world.

Ottoman Empire

• Remember back…

– The Ottoman people ruled a small state in western Anatolia by A.D. 1300

– The Ottomans gradually expanded into Byzantine territory

– The Ottomans finally defeat the Byzantines and conquer Constantinople in 1453, renaming it Istanbul

Ottoman Empire

• Ruled by Sultan

– Absolute authority

– ‘adala: justice, chief goal of the Sultan

• Elaborate system of spies that allowed the Sultan to control the empire

– Siyasa: set of punishments for corrupt officials

Ottoman Empire

• Accessibility to government

– Sultan’s orders (Firman) posted in public places

– Anyone could petition the Imperial Council (Diwan) to hear their grievance (ard-i mahdar)

– Used Friday prayers to gauge public opinion

Grand Vizier and other viziers or ministers

Chief advisor (prime minister) of the Sultan; only responsible to him

Ottoman Government Sultan سلطان

Grand Vizier وزیر اعظم

Serdar-ı Ekrem

Imperial Council دیوان

Diwan

Bureaucracy

Also assumes title of Caliph, the “Defender of Islam”

1. Guarantee safe passage to Mecca 2. Root out heresy

Controlled by a complex set of rules, including siyasa to limit corruption

Suleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566 )

• During his rule, he was considered the most important ruler in the entire world

• Viewed as the archetypal Muslim ruler

• Why? – Military superiority

– Culture

– Architecture

Archetypal: means the best example of a given category

Suleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566 )

• Called “the lawgiver” by Muslims

• Types of laws: – Sharia: religious law from Qur’an

– Kanun: laws based upon decisions from a ruler

• Revised 1501 set of laws, based on earlier laws of Mehmed II

Suleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566 )

• In Europe:

– Supported destabilization of Europe

– Supported Protestantism

– Afraid of European expansionism

• “Great Caliph” of Islam

– Supporter of all Islamic peoples?

Suleyman considered Europe to be the biggest threat to the security of the Islamic states in the Middle East. Why?

Suleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566 )

• As a builder

– Great supporter of architecture

– Patron of Mimar Sinan, greatest architect of classical Ottoman architecture

Note the mixture of Byzantine influences with Arabic culture

Selimiye Mosque, Sinan’s favorite

Suleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–1566 )

• As a patron of the arts

– Poetry

– Art

– Music

– Philosophy

• Istanbul, under Suleyman, was the center of Islamic culture

Safavid Empire (1501-1722)

• Followers of Shi’a Islam – Originally followers of Sufi Islam, convert in 15th

century

• Militant – Islam should be spread by military means

• First Major Leader: Isma'il – took control of Safavids at age 7, expanded empire until he controlled all of Iran by 1512

Became first “Shah” or ruler of Iran

Shah Isma'il

• Forced conversion of people to Shi’a Islam

• Claimed to be descended from the ancient Persian king and from the 7th Imam

• Conflict with the Ottomans

– Battle of Chaldiran (1514) – Ottomans defeat Safavids

Shah Abbas I (1588-1629)

• Reseized territory conquered by Ottomans in Iraq and Azerbaijan

• Moved Safavid capital to Isfahan

• Built Persia’s first standing army

Shah Abbas I (1588-1629)

• Made commercial treaties with Great Britain and the Netherlands

– Used his allies to destroy the Portuguese trade monopoly in India/Southeast Asia

• Known for being a patron of the arts

– Architecture

– Book illuminations

– Textiles

Mughal Empire

• Founded by Babur

• Empire with a Hindu majority ruled by a Muslim minority

• Ruler called a padshah, or “ruler of the empire”

Babur (r. 1483-1530)

• Muslim

• Nicknamed “the Tiger”

Babur (r. 1483-1530)

• Conquered most of Afghanistan and northern India, founded the Mughal Empire

• Technological superiority

– Used muskets and artillery

Mughal Empire:

1605

Akbar (r. 1556-1605)

• Grandson of Babur

• Considered by many to be the greatest ruler in Indian history

• Conquered most of northern India

Akbar (r. 1556-1605)

• Developed one of the most efficient bureaucracies in the world

• Tax reform

– Everyone was taxed equally (about 1/3 of income)

• Includes nobles, non-Muslims, etc.

Akbar (r. 1556-1605)

• Attempted to achieve harmony between Hindus and Muslims

– Empire built on sulahkul, or universal tolerance

• Decentralized government

– Almost federal – Hindu majority given much leeway in terms of laws, courts

• Akbar as the Platonic philosopher-king?

Later Great Emperors

• Jahangir (r. 1605-1628)

– “Age of Mughal Splendor”: much money spent on the arts

• Shah Jahan (r. 1628-1658)

– Moved capital to Delhi

– Builder: Red Fort, Peacock Throne, Taj Mahal

• Aurangzeb (r. 1658-1707)

– Not supported by Hindus

The Red Fort, built by Shah Jahan

Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan

Others in Southeast Asia

Philippines

• Native peoples of Malay descent

– Converted to Islam by traders in the 14th and 15th centuries

• Colony founded by the Spanish, capital at the captured town of Manila (1571)

DID YOU KNOW: Manila’s great harbor made it important for Spain’s trade with China

• Map of the Philippines and the Pacific Ocean

Thailand

• Ruled by kingdom of Ayutthaya

• Traded with Europeans, maintained independence

Southeast Asia

• French:

– Missionaries converted Vietnam, but it was still ruled by local leaders

Southeast Asia

• Portuguese:

– Trade routes through India to Indonesia (Malacca, 1511)

• Dutch:

– Dutch East Indies Becomes the country of Indonesia

Malacca

• Major center of trade, roughly halfway between India and China

• Major Goods:

– Silk and porcelain from China.

– Textiles from Gujarat and Coromandel in India.

– Camphor from Bornea.

– Sandlewood from Timor

– Nutmeg, mace, & cloves from the Moluccas.

– Gold & pepper from Sumatra.

– Tin from Western Malaya.