early modern middle east and asia - world...
TRANSCRIPT
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.