Untitled Flashcards Set

Ottoman Empire

Traditionally dated to 1299, the Ottoman Empire is noted for its expansion and influence in the region.

Osman's dream

A foundational myth for the Ottomans, symbolizing divine authority and justifying Osman’s rule.

Turcoman tribal groups

Various nomadic groups in Anatolia, of which the Ottomans were one, emerging during a period of instability.

Gallipoli (1354)

Symbolized the start of Ottoman expansion into Europe and marked a significant strategic victory.

Janissaries

Elite military corps formed from Christian captives, crucial to Ottoman military success.

Devşirme system

A practice where Christian boys were taken, converted to Islam, and trained for various roles within the Ottoman state.

Bapheus (1301)

The site of Osman's first battle against the Byzantines, marking the beginning of Ottoman military engagement.

Mehmed II 'The Conqueror'

Sultan who captured Constantinople in 1453 and transformed it into the Ottoman capital.

Topkapi Palace

Symbol of the Ottoman imperial vision and center of governance.

Qanun-i Osmani

The Ottoman Law Code which supplemented Islamic law with secular statutes.

Oghuz Turk genealogy

A fabricated lineage used to enhance the prestige and legitimacy of Ottoman rulers.

Black Death (1347)

Pandemic that devastated Constantinople, contributing to a power shift favoring the Ottomans.

Fratricide policy

Policy allowing new sultans to execute their brothers to prevent civil wars.

Safavid Challenge

The emergence of the Safavid Empire as a Shi‘a competitor to the Sunni Ottoman Empire.

Timar system

A fief-based taxation system used in the Ottoman Empire, similar to other regional precedents.

Ibn Battuta

A Moroccan traveler whose accounts provide important insights into early Ottoman society.

Selim I

Sultan who expanded the Ottoman Empire into Egypt and Syria (1516–1517) and confronted the Safavids.

Bayezid I vs. Timur

A significant conflict where Bayezid was defeated and taken prisoner by Timur at the Battle of Ankara (1402).