The Gunpowder Empires

Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal Islamic Empires

Nomadic Nature of Origins

• All three empires were founded by Turkic speaking nomads

• Founding leaders took advantage of power vacuum left by Mongols

Decrease in Size of Nomadic Zones

• 200-1400 CE Central Asia was dominated by nomads

• By 1400, this area began to be dominated by peasants and landlords.

• Turks began to settle down.• Cavalry not as important by 1400, but instead

gunpowder weaponry becomes key.

Common Characteristics

• Each lasted fairly long: Ottomans late 1300s-1918, Safavid 1500-1722, and the Mughal 1500s-1850.

• Each had stable borders and identified with a particular region.

• Each had an impact on the religious composition of their region.

Diverse Empires

• All three were tolerant to non-Muslims within their empires but not tolerant of rival Muslim sects (Sunni Ottomans vs. Shi’a Safavid)

• Cultural exchange between the three led to great artistic and architectural achievements.

Mehmed II (Ottoman)

Suleiman I (Ottoman)

Shah Abbas I (Safavid)

Babur (Mughal)

Akbar (Mughal)

Decline of the Empires1. Indifferent to Europe and did not keep

up with European scientific and technological advances. Europeans took greater advantage of revolution in gunpowder technologies.

2. Lack of strong bureaucracies allowed the military to gain influence over and independence from central government.

Decline (cont’d)3. Rivalries with each other (religious).

4. Problems holding together diverse empires.

5. Failure to see rising threat from Europe.

6. Loss of Indian Ocean sea trade revenues due to take over by Europeans (still impacts region today.)