Readings: Spodek, pp. 476-477,
500-502, 502-505, 505-506

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Under Osman Bey the
Ottomans begin to expand broadly from 1290-1326 by organizing Steppe Peoples in
Central Asia
In 15 th Century they moved broadly against Europe,
Persia, and Egypt.
April 6-May 29 1453 They besieged and conquered
Constantinople, capital of the
Byzantine Empire, under
Sultan Mehmed II, which ended the Byzantine Empire.

 Churches like Haghia
Sophia were transformed into mosques, though many Christian features remain.

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Turks faced hostile populations of Jews,
Catholics, Orthodox
Christians, some Muslims.
The Turks allowed everyone to practice whatever religion they wanted as long as they paid taxes.
Managed vast, culturally diverse empire through the
Janissary Army and Civil
Service.

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Janissaries - Took Christian boys and made them slaves
Under Mehmet II - By 16 th century they had control of
Mediterranean and Black
Seas —fought with Portugal over control of Indian Ocean-
Mehmet aimed to recreate
Byzantine Empire as an
Islamic state – attempted to rely heavily on Italian culture and fashion

 Joined royal and religious law.
 He had many challenges
 Mostly from Eastern
Turkey, the Safavid
Empire (the Persians)

 Center of Power – in Istanbul— the Topkapi Saray
 A fortress, sanctuary, and shrine
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Laid out by Mehmed II
Outer walls and inner walls with
Inner palace in deep interior — palace housed treasury, a library, and the sultan’s pavillion
Inner court closed to all but state officials – visitors confined to outer court
Around the edges, secret hideaway spots for the Sultan’s harem

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Topkapi Palace housed 10 mosques,
14 bathhouses, 2 hospitals, 2,000 women and 4,000 horses
Sultan housed in sacred spaces with relics of the prophet Muhammad – controlled the institutions and sacred places related to Sunni Islam
Externally —law code, tolerance, military power, still profited from spice trade, tribute from Europeans
Internally —palace often ruled by eunichs and concubines, as well as sultan’s mother, but more rational than many Europeans believed

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Shaped by Persians (1501-
1773), more a state than an empire, but had imperial ambitions
Like Ottomans, benefitted from trade across Eurasia
Ruled through a hereditary class of fighters – the
Qizilbash

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Expanded the Safavid Empire from 1588-1629
Created capital at Isfahan
Won gains in the caucuses and central Asia, expelled the
Portuguese from Hormuz
Insisted that everyone practice
Shi’ite version of Islam – left no room for religious pluralism
– even though most people they governed not originally
Shi’ites

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Babur started to conquer India in 1523 and took Delhi in
1526.
Mughal was the Indian word for Mongols
Babur and his followers didn’t like India because of the caste system and religion
Humayun

Early Mughal Rulers – Babur (1483-1530)

Early Mughal Rulers – Humayun – Babur’s Son

(1508-1556)
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Faced many obstaclesmostly from brothers
Consolidated Rule
Interested in Science and Astrology
Died falling down stairs from library carrying books
Picture —Humayun with
Babur

Akbar – Humayun’s Son (1556-1605)
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Was one of the great leaders of
India.
He couldn’t read; there is a chance he was dyslexic
He had others read to him so he could learn.
Married daughters of Rajputs (800 wives)
He encouraged art and architecture.
Good fighter but believed in diplomacy – picture with Jesuits at court
Tolerated and encouraged toleration of Hindus

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Ruled from 1605-1627 after father-Akbar-died
Very well educated, spoke 4 languages
He had little interest in India
Emphasized Sunni Islam
He married a Persian – Nur
Jahan and let her run the country – she had been a widow in his court
More interested in drinking and smoking opium than ruling

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Persian – gave positions in government to all her male relatives
Tough ruler
Good businesswoman – encouraged trade and industry-manufactured perfume, cosemitcs
Owned ships she used for commerical endeavors
 Wrote poetry under the name
Makhifi

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Jahangir’s son
Basically imprisoned Nur
Jahan until she died (she had backed his brother)
He ruled from 1628-
1657.
Built the Peacock throne and the Taj Majal.
Built the Taj Majal as a monument to his wife when she died in childbirth in 1631.

 Defeats Father - Shah
Jahan in 1658 and becomes emperor.
 Ruled until 1707.
 He actively tries to conquer all of India and got most of it except the South.

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Aurangzib was an ardent
Muslim and he prohibited the
Hindu religion and destroyed the Hindu temples.
In 1679 he imposed a special tax on non-Muslims and created an Islamic moral police that tried to enforce orthodoxy.
He also required all women to marry
By his death there was much turmoil.

 Though these were powerful empires why did they decline?
 One reason was they spent a lot of money fighting wars
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Spent enormous sums on monumental architecture to display power
Power – Superficially external visible – Real power Hidden in inner quarters
Worked well when tolerant – mostly not
Resisted new developments in western technology and science
Saw trade very differently from Europeans.