The Rise and Decline of the (Islamic) Gunpowder Empires

AP World History

1450-1750

Overview Rise of Ottomans, Safavid, and Mughal

Empires Conditions of Europe Big Question: What accounts for the rise of

the Gunpowder Empires and why aren’t they able to keep pace with Europe?

Ottoman Rise Void left by Mongols taken up by Ottomans

(among others) Cavalry, Janissaries dominate Conquer Constantinople, make it their

capital Considered the “terror of Europe”

Ottoman Military Might Adopted firearms readily – easily defeated

Muslim rivals, Hungary Initially they had superior technology 15th Century - Build navy to ward off

Europeans, gain control of Mediterranean (Significance?)

400 Years of Decline Military victories bring about decline, how? Had to constantly guard gains Multiethnic lead to ethnic rivalries Religious diversity at times leads to

religious rivalries

400 Years of Decline Conservative Islam focused on tradition,

spirituality Turks did not have the resources,

forethought to modernize army Trade imbalance Middle class heavily taxed (why relevant?) Numerous ineffective leaders

Land-Based Empires Focus on self-defense Agricultural base, not industrialization Centralized power Large land masses Controlled by large administrative and

economic systems Why have you never heard of Gunpowder

Empires?

Safavid (1501 – 1722) The Safavid Dynasty started

with Shah Ismail (1501). He was a descendant of Safi

al-Din who had been the leader of a Turkish ethnic groups in Azerbaijan near the Caspian Sea.

Under Ismail, the Safavid took control of much of Iran and Iraq

Safavid Ismail called himself “shah,” or

king, of the new Persian state. Ismail was a Shiite Muslim. He

sent preachers to different areas to convert members of the Ottoman Empire.

This led to the massacre of Sunni Muslims when he took Baghdad.

Lost the Battle of Chaldiran (1514); prevents Shi’ism from spreading further west

Safavid Shah Abbas, who ruled from 1588

to 1629, brought the Safavids to their highest point of glory.

He usurped the throne from his father and imprisoned him. He later killed the man who helped him get the throne.

He attacked the Ottoman Turks, with European help – they saw the Safavids as allies – to regain lost lands from the Ottomans.

The Safavids could not keep territorial gains, but a treaty was signed in 1612 returning Azerbaijan to the Safavids.

Safavid The Safavid Empire went from

Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea east to India; along the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea north to the southern border of Russia.

When Shah Abbas died, religious orthodoxy, a pressure to conform to traditional religious beliefs, increased. Women were to give up freedom for a life of seclusion and the wearing of the veil.

Safavid Isfahan was the Safavid capital. While under Shah Hussein, it was

taken by Afghan peoples. Persia sank into a period of

anarchy – lawlessness and disorder.

The role of the shah was that of a king.

The social structure was Shah, bureaucracy and landed classes, then the common people.

The official religion was Shia Islam because the Shiites supported the shahs at first.

Safavid Isfahan was the jewel of the

Safavid Empire, and it is still that for modern-day Iran.

Silk weaving flourished, but carpet weaving flourished more – Persian rugs are still prized today.

Riza-i-Abbasi is the most famous artist of this time. He made beautiful works about simple subjects such as oxen plowing, hunters, and lovers. They used soft colors and flowing movement in painting.

Rise of Mughal India Rise of power swift, easily conquered and controlled

Northern India. Babur conquered Sultanate of Delhi (1526) Akbar (most important) solidified power, made social

changes Created a new religion “Divine Faith” with elements of Hinduism

and Islam - unsuccessful Eliminated jizya tax on Hindus Allowed Hindus to build temples again Promoted Hindus in the gov’t Outlawed Sati, discouraged child marriage

Mughal Power Massive armies, cavalry, artillery, no navy Firearms purchased from Europeans, limited

local production Troops poorly trained – conscripted from poor Mughal’s had no Navy (merchants privately

owned ships to trade: Silk, Cotton, indigo) Government was decentralized (tradition of

regional control)

Mughal Decline Public works

(including the Taj Mahal) drain budgets

Later rulers more interested in Pleasure than Governance

Mughal Decline Wars to conquer

Southern India depleted reserves, distracted emperor from internal problems (uprisings and revolts), and incursions from Persian and Afghan warriors bands

Aurangzeb expanded at the expense of local problems.

Mughal Decline Repressive tax system, with few

benefits seen by poor Extensive bureaucracy allowed

large scale corruption Later emperors refused to

integrate Hindus into the gov’t (80% of population)

Military technology unable to match European development – modernization plan – Why?

What were the similarities & differences between the three Muslim empires?

OTTOMAN-Anatolia Peninsula, Europe & Nth Africa-religious fervor & zeal for Islamic conversion-mostly Muslim, large Christian minority-Sunni Muslim

SAFAVID-Persia (Iran)-religious fervor & zeal for Islamic conversion-mostly Muslim-Shi’ia Muslim

MUGHAL-Northern India-rule pre-dominantly non-Muslim population

SIMILARITIES- origins in Turkic nomadic raiders of Central Asia based on military conquest- oriented to support armies & military classes using firearms- effective use of firearms and siege warfare- ruled by a disputed succession of absolute monarchs-court rituals patterned after those of earlier Islamic dynasties-Taxed conquered peoples heavily

DIFFERENCES-Sunni (Ottoman and Mughal) v. Shi’a (Safavid) enmity meant warring over territory & persecuting adherents of rival brand of Islam- leads to varying religious practices, legal codes & social organization