Ottoman Administration,
Janissaries, and Devshirme
AP World History – Unit 3
(c.1450–1750)
The Ottoman Empire: Overview
• - Founded around 1299; rose to power by
conquering Constantinople (1453)
• - At its height under Suleiman the Magnificent,
spanned SE Europe, Middle East, and North Africa
• - Sunni Islamic empire governing diverse
populations (Christians, Jews, Muslims)
• - Relied on centralized administration and a strong
military
Ottoman Administrative Structure
• - Sultan: Supreme political and religious
authority
• - Grand Vizier: Chief advisor with executive
power
• - Provincial Governors (Beys): Oversaw local
administration
• - Bureaucracy staffed by trained civil servants,
often from the devshirme system
The Millet System: Governing
Diversity
• - Allowed religious communities (millets) to
govern themselves under their own laws
• - Millets included Greek Orthodox Christians,
Armenians, and Jews
• - Paid taxes and remained loyal to the Sultan
in exchange for autonomy
• - Encouraged stability and limited rebellion
among non-Muslim populations
The Janissaries
• - Elite infantry corps, originally composed of
boys taken via the devshirme system
• - Highly trained in firearms and disciplined
military tactics
• - Paid a salary, lived in barracks, and were
forbidden from marrying early in service
• - Became politically influential over time —
could even challenge the Sultan’s power
Devshirme: Origins and Purpose
• - Instituted in the 14th century as a form of
tribute from Christian communities
• - Christian boys (ages 8–18) taken from Balkan
villages
• - Converted to Islam and educated in palace
schools
• - Trained for elite military or bureaucratic
service
Devshirme: Training and
Advancement
• - Most talented boys became Janissaries (elite
soldiers)
• - Others served in bureaucracy: scribes, tax
officials, court advisers
• - Some rose to high ranks, including Grand
Vizier
• - Created loyalty to the Sultan and bypassed
traditional nobility
Comparison: Devshirme vs Feudal
Nobility
• - Devshirme created a meritocratic path based
on skill and loyalty
• - Nobility in Europe was hereditary and often
independent from kings
• - Ottomans avoided power struggles by
training loyal state servants
• - Result: Stronger centralization and more
stable imperial administration
Significance of Ottoman
Administrative Practices
• - Devshirme system helped centralize power
and create a loyal bureaucracy
• - Janissaries formed a disciplined, modern
military force
• - Millet system allowed governance of a
multi-ethnic, multi-religious empire
• - These innovations contributed to the
Ottoman Empire’s long-term success