Unit 8 Pt.3 - Islamic and Mongolian Empires
The Ming Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty was overthrown and replaced by the Ming Dynasty
The leader of the Ming was Hongwu and he sought to replace the international nature of Mongol rule with traditional Chinese isolationism
He also re-established the Chinese traditions of Confucianism and the civil service system
His son was known for moving the capital to Beijing and building the Forbidden City
The Forbidden City was the emperor’s palace thus commoners and foreigners were not allowed to enter
The famous fleet of Zheng He was launched. He was a Chinese Muslim admiral
Zheng He’s fleet traveled to Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and Africa
The voyages were designed to display Chinese power and to expand China’s tribute system
PAGE 2 MAP IS ON TEST
Many nations sent tribute in return for access to Chinese goods
Yet, many government officials were critical of the voyages and argued for a return to China’s tradition of isolationism
Lightening struck the Forbidden City. This was taken as a sign from the gods to return to isolationism
Zheng He’s fleet was destroyed and foreign trade was restricted
The Qing Dynasty
Manchuria conquered the Ming Dynasty and established the Qing Dynasty
The Chinese came to support the Qing because they upheld traditional beliefs such as Confucianism and isolationism
The Ottoman Empire
Following the collapse of the Mongol Empire, Osman began building a Muslim state in Anatolia which would ultimately evolve into the Ottoman Empire
The Ottomans were able to expand so successfully because they were using cannons and guns
Mehmed II broke through Constantinople’s famous walls, turned the Hagia Sophia (a church) into a mosque, and renamed the city Istanbul
Mehmet idolized Alexander the Great and like Alexander, he envisioned an empire “from the East to the West”
The Ottoman Empire would achieve its greatest success under the leadership of Suleyman the Magnificent
Suleyman is best remembered for creating a law code and thus earned the title: Lawgiver
He also encouraged literature, math, and science as well as architecture. The most famous example of the latter is the Mosque of Suleyman
The Ottoman Empire, however, began to decline upon the death of Suleyman
One reason for this decline would be the low quality of Sultans
The low quality of Sultans was a result of policies that were designed to avoid succession conflicts
All sultans had a harem that consisted of hundreds of women. When any of these women gave birth to a son, they became a Sultana. Their sons were placed, in order of their birth, in the line of succession
All of these sons, however, were imprisoned in “The Cage” to avoid the threat of a coup and when the Sultan died the oldest son was released from The Cage and named the new Sultan. He would then have all of his younger brothers in The Cage killed
PAGE 15 IN PACKET HAS A GREAT GUIDELINE OF THE NOTES
PAGE 21 IN PACKET CONTAINS MORE INFO ON SULEYMAN ESSENTIAL FOR THE TEST
The Mughals
Mughals are people who descended from the Turks and Mongols and gained control of India
The Mughal empire achieved greatness under Akbar
Akbar the Great is best known for his tolerance. The Mughal conquest of India resulted in terrible violence between Muslims and Hindus
Akbar, however, allowed religious freedom, appointed Hindus to work in his government, and even married several Hindus women
Akbar’s grandson is best known for the tomb he built for his dear wife, Tan Mahal
Aurangzeb expanded the Mughal empire to its greatest size
Aurangzeb is best known for his intolerance. He was a militant Muslim who outlawed drinking and gambling and ordered people to pray 5 times a day
He dismissed Hindus from the government. He banned the construction of Hindus temples and destroyed Hindu monuments
Aurangzeb’s policies increased Hindu resistance to his rule and resulted in a series of rebellion and civil wars