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DESCRIPTION
Ottoman SafavidsTRANSCRIPT
Ottoman Rule
• Labeled- gunpowder empire– Formed by outside conquerors who
unified after conquering– Success based on mastery of fire arms
• Sultan- head of Ottoman system– Position hereditary– Not necessarily to eldest son– Led to struggles for power
• Harem- “sacred place” sultans private quarters
• Sultan controlled- bureaucracy w/ imperial council– Grand Vizier- chief minister, led
meetings
Topkapi Divan; center area for grand vizier; Sultan behind screen
• Ottomans were – Sunni Muslims– Sultans claimed title caliph– Resp- guiding flock & maintaining Islamic law
• Ulema- sultan’s religious advisors– Administered legal system & school for
education of Muslims– Islamic law applied to all Muslims in empire– Tolerant of non-Muslims
• Non-Muslims- paid a tax– Allowed to practice own religion
Religion in the Ottoman World
Ottoman Society
• Subjects divided by occupation– Ruling class top of society– 4 occupation groups 1. merchants- just
below ruling class in status2. artisans- org. by
craft3. peasants-farmed
land4. pastoral-sep. group
w/ own laws• Women somewhat better off than other Muslim
societies– Allowed to own/ inherit property– Couldn’t be forced to marry
Problems in Ottoman Empire
• Began during Suleyman the Mag.’s rule– Succeeded by Selim II, his only
surviving son• 1699 began to lose some
territory• Local officials grew corrupt,
taxes• Wars emptied the treasury• Western ideas spread through
Empire
Ottoman Art
• Produced pottery, rugs, silk, textiles, jewelry, arms & armor
• Greatest contribution – architecture (especially mosques) – Sinan greatest Ottoman architect– Mosques topped dome
• Framed with 4 towers (minarets)
– Flourishing textile & rug industry
Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent
The Rule of Safavids
• Rise of Safavid Dynasty – Early 15th C- area from Persia into central Asia fell
into anarchy– Safavids- took control at beginning of 16th C
• Ardent (devoted)- Shiites• Founded by- Shah Ismail• 1501- Ismail seize Iran & Iraq• Called self- Shah (King)• 1508- killed Sunnis when he conquered Baghdad
• Shah Abbas- ruled from 1588-1629– Safavids- reached high point under his rule– Early 17th C- moved against Ottoman to
regain territories– 1629- Abbas dies (rulers that followed weak)– Shiites began to Inc their influence in gov’t
and society at large• Pressure to conform to Shiite beliefs• Women lost many freedoms
Shah
Gov’t workers (bureaucracy)
&
Landed Elite
Common People
• Pol & Soc Structure– Shah direct successor of Muhammad– Controlled power of aristocracy– Gov’t positions merit
• Safavid Culture– 1588-1629 rule of Shah Abbas (golden age in
arts)– Capital Isfahan was grand city– Silk weaving new technique brilliant colors
• Carpet weaving encouraged by demand by West
Sister weaving carpets in Iran
Modern Weaving Machine