Chapter 21-22?
Gunpowder Empires
Ottomans in Middle East,
Mughals in India,
China & Japan
Middle East, India, China

Dominated postclassical period

But position challenged in 1450-1750

Lingering vibrancy makes these areas less
affected by European expansion

Seeds of 19th century subordinance laid
Muslim Empires
Ottomans, Safavids, & Mughals: from
Bridge b/t Civs to Gunpowder Empires
Chapter 21, pgs 456-480
The Ottoman Empire
crash course intro
Istanbul song
Turkey?
When most think of Turkey,
they think of…

…instead of…
Why are the birds called this? And, what can we learn from
their names?
Etymology of “Turkey”


Result of the Turks being the primary
merchants responsible for trading the guinea
fowl in Europe
Thus, when Spain opened the Americas, the
domesticated birds found in the Aztec Empire
gradually grew to be called, “turkeys.”

In fact, the Ottomans were such import traders
that corn was originally called, “turkey corn.”
Ottomans: Warriors to Empire
Question

Describe conflicts and competition that served
to undermine Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese
governments.
Janissaries

Elite gunpowder force of Sultan

Part of Devshirme


Process of enslaving young Christian boys
Given a test



High performers – bureaucrats
Others – Janissaries
Based on the creation of a new slave aristocracy
Ottomans: Warriors to Empire
Question

Compare and contrast the Janissary corps and
Chinese scholar-gentry.
Mughals

Central Asian descendants of Mongols &
Tamerlane seek to fill power vacuum


Remember…rule of India is regionalism
Warrior elites depose Delhi Sultanate & begin
building an empire of Muslim ruling elite over
Hindu majority
Akbar the Great


Conquers much of India using cannons &
muskets to defeat elephant units
Efforts to build prosperous empire



Improve lives of women & poor
Trade-based economy: vigorous internal trade due to
unification, external trade of manufactures for silver
& Asian goods brought by Europeans
Ease tension b/t Hindus & Muslims
Religious Movements in Response to
Hindu-Muslim Life
In addition to Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi…
Sikhism:


1.
2.
3.
4.
Started 10 prophets, called Gurus
Evidence of period & prolonged contact b/t Hindus &
Muslims
Karma  Reincarnation
Belief in enlightenment rather than heaven/hell
One God, pray 5 times daily
No caste system
Decline – Weak Successors

Few can follow vigor of Akbar’s leadership &
desire to help foster prosperous society


Shah Jahan & grandeur
Few maintain efforts to ease societal tensions

Aurangzeb: gunpowder & Islamic emphasis
gone too far
Reflect
1.
2.
3.
Describe conflicts and competition that
served to undermine Ottoman and Mughal
governments.
Evaluate the extent to which the Ottomans
and Mughals represent a departure in Middle
Eastern and Indian history.
Compare the Ottoman and Mughal empires.
Safavids: the Shia Challenge

Turkish warriors conquer Persia in wake of Mongols

Promoted Shia Islam

Developed a key rivalry with Ottomans



Case Study: Ottoman victory at the Battle of Chaldiran:
Shia v. Sunni - ends Persian / Shia expansion
Gunpowder v Gunpowder - bloody
Demise of Safavids
1.
2.
3.
4.
Succession – harem, rival princes, & isolation of
princes limited successful rule
Conservatism – slave-bureaucrats’ monopoly on
gunpowder limits innovation
Internal strife – factional disputes with warrior elites
External pressure – European influence more
detrimental due to relative weakness of Safavid
technology