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Globalization/Colonialism/Imperialism Flashcard
The Ottoman Empire
Overview of Political Institutions
The Ottoman ruling class known as Osmanlilar ("Ottomans") was vital in the empire's strength and efficiency.
Main goals:
Expand and defend the empire.
Exploit resources for wealth.
Ruling Class Composition
Made up of two competing groups:
Landowning Aristocracy: Composed of conquered Christian princes and Turkish amirs.
Devshirme Group: Enslaved boys who were converted to Islam and trained for military or administrative roles.
Devshirme system was a recruitment method that converted non-Muslim boys into loyal subjects.
Attributes for Ascension to Ruling Class
Any male Ottoman subject could join the ruling class by demonstrating:
Complete dedication to the sultan's service.
Acceptance and practice of Islam (enforced in the sixteenth century).
Mastery of the Ottoman way: customs, behavior, language.
Special schools trained boys for government service, focusing mainly on Christian recruits.
Branches of Ruling Class
The ruling class was divided into four branches:
Administrative:
Included the palace (sultan's family and servants) and the divan (cabinet) that supervised all branches.
Chief administrator: Grand Vizier.
Military:
Comprised sipahis (horse soldiers) and janissaries (elite foot soldiers using firearms).
Scribal:
Managed treasury and tax collection, maintained efficient bureaucratic processes.
Utilized a tax farming system where multezims collected taxes with set quotas for the empire.
Cultural:
Consisted of ulama (Muslim scholars) responsible for education, justice, and managing waqfs (Islamic endowments).
Military Structure
Army Composition
Sipahis: Led early conquests with horseback combat.
Janissaries: Essential for sixteenth-century victories; had strict discipline and advanced training.
Differences in property ownership:
Sipahis held estates (timars); janissaries were denied land to ensure loyalty.
Decline of sipahis as artillery and firearms became more dominant.
Economic Aspects
The military and scribal branches required a robust treasury to manage salaries and resources.
Class System
Subject Class (Re'aya)
Comprised everyone not in the ruling class, engaged in agriculture, artisan work, and commerce.
Strengthened through trade guilds, Sufi orders, and social organizations (millet).
Millets: Religious communities overseeing ecclesiastical and community affairs. Examples include the Greek Orthodox, Armenian, and Jewish millets.
European Relations
Europeans received capitulations offering autonomy from Ottoman laws and taxation, leading to tensions and exploitation.
Decline of the Ottoman Empire
Early Signs
Began with Selim II's accession and naval defeats in the late 16th century.
Declining military effectiveness and outdated training among janissaries.
Economic difficulties aggravated by European expansion and inflation.
Key Factors of Decline
The imbalance of power within the ruling class:
Shift of influence from traditional elites to devshirme-trained administrators and janissaries.
Janissaries grew powerful and independent, leading to neglect of military training.
Failure to adopt modern military techniques contributed to military defeats against European powers.
Comparison with Safavid Persia
Background
Safavid dynasty emerged from a Sufi order and stabilized through Shi'ism, contrasting with the Sunni Ottomans.
Rise of Safavid Power
Isma'il proclaimed shah and established Shi'ism as the state religion, challenging Ottoman authority.
Despite setbacks, the Safavids solidified control over Persia amid religious reformation.
Safavid Zenith
Under Shah Abbas, Persia flourished in arts and culture, competing with Ottoman power.
Conclusion of Ottoman Decline
The Ottoman Empire navigated a complex political landscape marked by internal strife, military weakness, and external pressures from rising European powers.
The historical legacy of the Ottomans reflects the challenges faced by dynastic empires under shifting global powers and influences.
When you hear the word "globalization," the first thing that should come to mind is the interconnectedness of economies, cultures, and societies worldwide. Globalization refers to the process by which businesses, technologies, ideas, and cultural practices cross international borders, impacting how we live and interact with one another globally.
Globalization, colonialism, and imperialism are related concepts, but they are not the same. While all three involve the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures across borders, they differ significantly in their methods and impacts:
Colonialism typically refers to one nation's direct control and domination over another. It often involves military conquest and the establishment of settlements, which can lead to significant violence and oppression of local populations.
Imperialism is broader and can include colonialism. It also encompasses a country's influence over another through economic or political means without direct control. Imperialism often involves the exploitation of resources and people and involves less control.
Globalization, on the other hand, generally involves the voluntary exchange of goods, services, technologies, and cultural practices across borders. It is characterized by interdependence and interconnectedness. While it can impact local cultures and economies, it does not inherently involve the violence associated with colonialism and imperialism.
In summary, globalization is not simply a less violent version of colonialism or imperialism; it is a distinct process of global integration that can produce both benefits and challenges.
Two main sides
One is political
Other is Cultural
Political: This aspect focuses on the shifts in power dynamics, governance structures, and international relations that arise from globalization. These shifts often lead to increased cooperation and potential conflicts between nations.
Cultural: This site addresses the exchange of ideas, values, and practices across borders, which can enhance cultural diversity but may also result in cultural homogenization and the erosion of local traditions.
Economic: This dimension examines the interconnectedness of global markets, trade relationships, and economic policies, which can drive growth and development while also creating disparities in wealth and access to resources among different countries.
The first two phases of globalization in the Middle East can be understood through their historical context:
Early Trade Networks:
The Middle East has been pivotal in historical trade routes, notably the Silk Road and maritime routes connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.
This phase facilitated the exchange of goods, spices, textiles, and ideas, significantly impacting the region's cultural and economic landscapes.
Not just The transfer of ideology and the transfer of Ideas also played a crucial role, as religions, philosophies, and technologies were disseminated along these routes, shaping societies and influencing governance across continents.
Colonial Influence:
The colonial era of the 19th and early 20th centuries reshaped the Middle East's political and economic structures, often resulting in foreign powers' exploitation of resources.
This phase was marked by establishing new governance systems and borders, which have influenced contemporary nation-states in the region.
Ottoman Empire, included in the colonialism along side, the British and French empires, played a significant role in the geopolitical dynamics of the time, leading to the eventual dissolution of the empire and the subsequent emergence of new national identities.