Unit 3: Land-Based Empires

History

Ottoman Empire

  • Southwest Europe, Anatolia

  • Sunni Islam

    • Founded 14th century; rapid expansion through gunpowder weapons.

    • Conquered Constantinople (1453) → renamed Istanbul.

    • Janissaries: Elite slave-soldiers, Christians from Balkans converted to Islam.

    • Strong bureaucracy (Devshirme system).

Safavid Empire

  • Middle East (Persia)

  • Shia Islam

    • Founded 16th century by Shah Ismail.

    • Expanded using gunpowder military; enslaved soldiers from Caucasus.

    • Shia vs Sunni tension with Ottomans.

Mughal Empire

  • South & Central Asia

  • Sunni Islam

    • Founded 1526 by Babur, defeating Delhi Sultanate.

    • Gunpowder military, expansion under Akbar.

    • Akbar promoted religious tolerance; governed a large Hindu majority.

Qing (Manchu) Dynasty

  • China

  • Confucian/Chinese customs

    • Founded by Manchu, replacing Ming (ethnically Han).

    • Consolidated power through gunpowder military, cultural integration, and portraits of Emperor Kangxi.

    • Legitimacy is emphasized through traditional Chinese imagery.

Power

Bureaucracy

  • Administer laws, taxes, and daily governance.

    • Ottoman Devshirme system → trained Christian converts as bureaucrats loyal to Sultan.

  • Professional Military

    • Janissaries (Ottoman).

    • Enslaved Caucasian soldiers (Safavid).

    • Mughal gunpowder army.

  • Religious Ideas, Art, & Monumental Architecture

    • Religion

      • Legitimized rule through divine authority.

      • European monarchs → Divine Right of Kings

  • Art reinforce legitimacy.

    • Qing Emperor Kangxi had imperial portraits showing wisdom and power.

    • Architecture consolidated and displayed power.

  • Tax Collection Systems

  • Needed for military & bureaucracy.

    • Mughal: Zamindars (local elites) collected taxes.

    • Ottoman: Tax farming (sold tax rights to highest bidder).

    • Aztec: Tribute lists from conquered regions.

Religion

Christianity

  • Corruption: Simony & indulgences → Church wealth & power.

  • Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther (1517, 95 Theses) → challenged Catholic Church.

  • Catholic Reformation: Council of Trent → reformed corruption but maintained doctrine.

  • Impact: Permanent split; growth of Christianity in Europe.

Islam

  • Sunni vs Shia split intensified:

    • Safavid Empire adopted Shia Islam → political and religious conflict with Sunni Ottomans.

  • Safavid rituals (cursing first three caliphs) deepened tensions.

Sikhism (South Asia)

  • Syncretic blend of Hinduism & Islam.

    • Maintained: Belief in one God, reincarnation.

    • Changed: Rejected gender hierarchies (Islam) & caste system (Hinduism).

Comparison

  • Rapid expansion through gunpowder weapons.

  • Large, multi-ethnic populations (Mughal & Qing different from subjects; Ottomans & Safavids Muslim).

  • Religious differences shaped politics (Ottomans Sunni, Safavids Shia).

  • Safavid-Mughal wars: Territory in modern Afghanistan; religious rivalry (Sunni vs Shia).