Page 1:

• Introduction to the Gunpowder Empires

  • Refers to large multiethnic states in Southwest, Central, and South Asia that relied on firearms

  • Included the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires

  • These empires left artistic and architectural legacies

  • Russia modernized its army and survived as an independent nation-state

  • The Ottoman Empire fell after World War I

Page 2:

• Rise of the Islamic Gunpowder Empires

  • Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires shared similarities

  • Muslim leaders from nomadic Turkic backgrounds

  • Relied on gunpowder and firearms in their armies

• Success of the Gunpowder Empires

  • Resulted from their military might and the weakness of the regimes they replaced

  • European nations were divided and did not unite against the new powers

Page 3:

• Tamerlane's rule and the rise of Turkic empires

  • Tamerlane's invasion of Central Asia and the Middle East set the stage for Turkic empires

  • Tamerlane used gunpowder to build a government and protect land routes on the Silk Road

  • Tamerlane's rule marked the clash between Mongols and Islamic forces

• The Ottoman Empire

  • Largest and most enduring Islamic empire

  • Founded by the Osman Dynasty in the 1300s

  • Mehmed II, "the Conqueror," established the empire's capital in Istanbul

  • Istanbul prospered as a trade nexus and expanded across the Bosporus Strait

  • Ottoman Empire expanded into the Balkans, Italy, Syria, Israel, Egypt, and Algeria

  • Used the devshirme system to recruit Christian boys for military and government service

Page 4:

• Ottoman Empire recruited boys from conquered Christian lands in Europe

  • Taught various skills in politics, arts, and military

  • Janissaries formed elite forces in the Ottoman army

  • Other boys became administrators, scribes, tax collectors, diplomats

• Janissaries provided upward mobility in the Ottoman Empire

• Suleiman I ruled from 1520-1566

  • Ottoman Empire reached its peak under his rule

  • Overran Hungary and attempted to take Vienna

  • Captured the island of Rhodes and Tripoli in North Africa

• Suleiman ordered construction of mosques, forts, and other buildings

• Reformed the empire's legal system and became known as "the Lawgiver"

Page 5:

• Ottoman trade energized by conquest and forced tribute

• Ottoman navy allowed for middlemen traders

• European styles and furnishings became popular in the empire

• Ottoman sultan controlled trade in gold, slaves, silk, spices

• Ottoman artisans produced distinctive tiles, pottery, rugs

• Peasants burdened with taxes to finance the military

• Local officials and tax collectors grew wealthy and corrupt

• Tolerant sultans allowed Christian and Jewish merchants to prosper

• Trade agreements signed with France and other powers

• Coffeehouses served as settings for business transactions and cultural events

• Introduction of new crops from the Americas

• Social classes: warrior aristocracy, ulama, Janissaries, viziers, women, merchants, artisans, peasants, slaves

• Relative tolerance towards Jews and Christians

• Decline of the Ottoman Empire after Suleiman's death

• Ottoman Empire became known as the "Sick Man of Europe"

• Women and eunuchs gained power behind the scenes

• Slavery continued into the twentieth century

Page 6:

• Arts, culture, and economy showed continuities under the Ottomans

• Byzantine Empire replaced by Ottoman Empire

• Eastern Orthodox religion replaced by Islam

• Emperor replaced by sultan

• Justinian Law replaced by shariah

Page 7:

• Constantinople (Istanbul) remained the western end of the overland Silk Roads

  • Grand Bazaar in Constantinople was full of foreign imports

    • Amber and wood products from Russia

    • Spices and silk from China

    • Ivory and slaves from Africa

    • Carpets from Persia

• Demand for goods in Constantinople created an export market to other cities of the empire

• Coffeehouses thrived throughout the towns of the empire, despite being banned by Islamic law

• Istanbul remained a center of arts and learning

  • Poets and scholars from across Asia met in coffeehouses and gardens

  • Rich intellectual atmosphere discussing works by Aristotle, Greek writers, and Arabic scholars

• Ottoman cultural contributions included the restoration of buildings in Constantinople

  • Cathedral of Saint Sophia turned into a grand mosque (Hagia Sophia)

  • Topkapi Palace

• Ottoman miniature paintings and illuminated manuscripts became famous

• Artisans in guilds set high standards, particularly for artisans working in gold, silver, and silk

Page 7-8:

• Safavids faced challenges due to lack of navy and natural defenses

• Ismail, a Safavid military hero, conquered most of Persia and pushed into Iraq

• Shah Ismail used Shia Islam as a unifying force and denied legitimacy to any Sunni

• Frequent hostilities with the Ottoman Empire due to religious differences

• Conflicts also arose over control of overland trade routes

• Safavids and Ottomans prevented each other from becoming a threat to Europe

• Shah Abbas I, known as "Abbas the Great," ruled over the Safavid Empire at its height

• Abbas imported weaponry from Europe and controlled religion as well as politics

• Theocracy created by Safavid rulers provided a precedent for the Shia-dominated Iranian state

• Abbas beautified the capital city of Isfahan and encouraged craft production

• Safavids had some trade with the Portuguese fleet and later took control of the Strait of Hormuz with English ships

• Ineffectual leaders and falling revenues led to a weakened economy and decline of the Safavid Dynasty

• Safavids were unable to quell a rebellion by Sunni Pashtuns, leading to the sack of Isfahan

• Ottomans and Russians seized territories during the weakened Safavid Dynasty

• Isfahan retained its beauty despite the decline of the Safavids

• Safavid women had access to rights provided by Islamic law but had limited political influence

Page 8:

• Babur, a descendant of Tamerlane, founded the Mughal Dynasty in India

• Babur's grandson, Akbar, achieved grand religious and political goals

• Akbar defeated Hindu armies and extended the Mughal Empire

• Akbar established an efficient government and a system of fairly ruling from Delhi

Page 9: Akbar and the Mughal Empire

• Akbar created a strong, centralized government and an effective civil service

  • Capable men from Central Asia came to serve him

  • They helped create a strong government and civil service

• Paid government officials in charge of specific duties were called zamindars

  • They were given grants of land and kept a portion of the taxes paid by local peasants

• Akbar was tolerant of all religions

  • He allocated grants of money or land to Hindus and Muslims

  • He tried to mediate the conflict between Hindus and Muslims

• Akbar encouraged learning, art, architecture, and literature

• The Mughal Empire under Akbar was one of the richest and best-governed states in the world

• Overseas trade flourished during this period, mostly carried out by Arab traders

• Traded goods included textiles, tropical foods, spices, and precious stones

Page 10: Aurangzeb and the Decline of the Mughal Empire

• Aurangzeb inherited a weakened empire and wanted to increase its size and rid it of Hindu influences

• He drained the empire's treasury and faced peasant uprisings

• Music was banned and there were revolts among Hindu and Islamic princes

• The empire grew increasingly unstable after Aurangzeb's death, allowing the British and French to gain more economic power in India

• The British would eventually take political power away from the Mughals in the 19th century

Page 11: Decline of the Gunpowder Empires

• Pressure from European trading companies, especially the British, contributed to the decline of the Gunpowder Empires

• Competition among heirs motivated by harem politics also played a role

• Weak or corrupt leadership and failure to keep up with military and naval technology were factors in the decline

• Religious differences, such as the division between Islam and Hinduism in Mughal India, also created problems

Page 12: Reasons for the Rise and Decline of the Gunpowder Empires

• The Gunpowder Empires became part of the growing global economy through trade

• Reasons for their decline include ineffectiveness, intolerance of minorities, and failure to modernize

• Poor leadership and military weakness were also factors in the decline

Note: The Mughal Empire under Akbar was one of the richest and best-governed states in the world. However, it faced decline under Aurangzeb due to various factors such as draining the treasury, banning music, and facing revolts. The decline of the Gunpowder Empires was also influenced by pressure from European trading companies, weak leadership, and religious differences.

Page 13

Main Ideas:

• Military decline in Gunpowder Empires after Suleiman's time

• Intolerance as a reason for the failure of Gunpowder Empires

Military decline in Gunpowder Empires after Suleiman's time

• Leaders did not lead their men in battle

• Military discipline declined

• Efficiency and technology lagged behind Western Europe

Intolerance as a reason for the failure of Gunpowder Empires

• Empires were successful when religiously and ethnically tolerant

• Ottoman Empire outlived Safavid and Mughal Empires due to relative tolerance

Supporting Details:

• Military decline:

  • Leaders did not lead in battle

  • Military discipline declined

  • Efficiency and technology lagged behind Western Europe

• Intolerance:

  • Empires were successful when tolerant

  • Ottoman Empire outlived Safavid and Mughal Empires due to relative tolerance