Chapter 17 History

The Islamic World Powers (1300-1800)

Key Terms and Main Ideas

• Ottoman Empire: Significant Turkish empire lasting from 1299 to 1922.

• Safavid Empire: Dynasty ruling Persia from 1501 to 1722, with state religion of Shi'ism.

• Mughal Empire: Major Muslim empire in India, noted for being the largest and wealthiest Islamic entity during the early modern period.

• European Presence: The influence and trade patterns of European powers impacting Islamic empires.

Ottoman Empire

Overview

• The Ottomans were a ruling house of the Turkish empire that lasted from 1299 to 1922.

Political Structure

• Sultan: Supremely powerful political and military ruler.

• Viziers: Chief assistants aiding the sultan.

Military and Administrative Features

• Devshirme: System where Christian youths were recruited and trained as soldiers or officials.

• Janissaries: Elite military corps, originally formed from the devshirme system.

• Concubine: Enslaved women primarily maintained for sexual relations with their owners.

Safavid Empire

Overview

• Shah: The Persian title for King, used in the context of Safavid rulers.

• Qizilbash: Nomadic tribes that supported the Safavid state with military forces in exchange for rights to graze.

Strengths of the Safavid State

• Bureaucratic and Civil Structure: Strong urban bureaucracies.

• Shi’a Islam: The state’s adherence to Shi’ism, enhancing loyalty among followers.

Religious and Cultural Aspects

Ulama

• Religious scholars responsible for interpreting Islamic texts, including the Qur'an and the Sunna.

Sufism

• A spiritual and mystical dimension of Islam that arose as a response to increased materialism in Muslim society. Emphasizes practices like music, dance, and prayer to seek closeness to God.

Mughal Empire

Overview

• The empire was the largest and wealthiest among Islamic empires and a major political force in the Indian subcontinent.

Cultural Developments

The Arts

• Notable for advancements in art, architecture, city planning, and the creation of gardens as reflections of beauty and spirituality.

Gunpowder Empires

• The term refers to the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires, known for their adoption of gunpowder weaponry alongside traditional military tactics.

European Presence in Islamic Empires

Trade Dynamics

• Dutch Dominance: The Dutch replaced Portuguese traders in the Indian Ocean by the seventeenth century.

• Changing trade patterns allowed Europeans to bypass traditional Ottoman and Safavid merchants, affecting their economies.

Sepoys

• Native Indian soldiers serving European colonial powers, trained primarily for infantry combat.