The Empires of Islam
Case studies during the age of Global Interdependence (1500-1800)
Islamic Empires
Began as “warrior principalities”Expanded at varying rates with varying success.As they grow they evolved across the five themes
The Ottoman Turks
Osman Bey: the founder of the Empire1289-1923Ghazi: warriors for the faith
Ottoman Military Might
Professional light and heavy cavalryDevshirme system: training of a highly capable military bureacracyJanissaries
Janissaries
Known for valor, discipline, and courage.
Janissaries were amongst the first groups to open their ranks to new technology such as gunpowder.
Siege of ConstantinopleNowhere was the new technology more evident than in the Ottoman destruction of Constantinople
Ottoman Expansion
Under Selim the Grim they occupied Egypt and Syria. Under Sulieyman they expanded into the old Abbasid domain and even into EuropeBattle of Mohacs
Gunpowder to the SeasUnder Suleyman they became a major naval power. Victories such as Lepanta and Preveza were common.
The Safavids
Shah Ismail
An empire won Twelver Shiism
Qizilbash
Military movement.“Invincible movement”Persecuted by Ottomans
Chaldiran
Chaldiran saw great damage done to the Safavid state…it wasn’t destroyed, but it was bad.Saved by Abbas the Great
Abbas the Great
Moved capital to Isfahan (artistic and cultural revolution)Reformed government and military.Allied with Europe against Ottomans.
The Mughal Age
16th –18th Century India
An apex of Indian cultural traditions
Zahir ud din Muhammad
BaburMuslim emperor from Central Asia who used “leapfrog” tactics to conquer Northern India and crush the Dehli Sultanate.
Babur
Nearly always possessed smaller forces.Extraordinary lineage.Life devoted to conquest.
Humayun“intelligent but lazy”Lacked his fathers “will”.Forced to flee to Persia in 1540. A key turning point.Reconquered Dehli with Persian help.
Akbar the GreatBorn during Humayun’s exile in Persia.Extremely intelligent and inquisitive.“A monarch should be ever intent on conquest, otherwise his neighbors rise in arms against him.”
AkbarCreated the greatest Indian empire since the Mauryan dynasty.Gave the impression of centralization, but it was actually decentralized kingdoms under the sheer force and dominance of his persona.
Gunpowder Empire
Like the Ottomans they used artillery to consolidate their political control.
Indo-Muslim CivilizationRemarkable tolerance for Hindus rolling back centuries of oppression.Raised a Muslim but his religious curiosity knew no bounds.Alienated orthodox Muslims with his views.
Din-I-Ilahi
The syncretic belief system advocated by Akbar. A belief that employed Judeo-Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Zoroastrian traditions.
Difficult to define Based on imperial divinityAroused deep hostility amongst Muslims.
Akbar and Hindus
Allowed Hindus opportunities to participate.Abolished JizyaMuslims followed ShariaHindus follwed Dharmashastra
Fatehpur Sikri
JahangirTalented but disinterested.Only interested in “a bottle of wine and a piece of meat to make merry”.Persian born empress Nur Jahan was the real power.
Shah Jahan
A time of poverty during the 1640’s. Yet he continued conquest and expensive building projects.
Taj Mahal
His beloved wife Mumtaz Muhal died during childbirth for child 13.He built a building of unparralled beauty for her final resting place.
Plans were made for him to build a similar palace of black marble across the river from the Taj Mahal. 20,000 masons working decades completed the project.His son Aurangzeb would have none of it.
AurangzebA man of uncompromising principles.A devout MuslimAttacked many Hindu traditionsRestored Islamic dominance in Indian daily life.
English in India
Entered for good after their victory over a shell of the former Mughal forces at the Battle of Plassey.3,000 defeated 30,000.
English impactsDisaster on Indian economy and industry.Destroyed Mughal Empire.Ended Indian sovereignty until 1947.Attempted to “introduce” English methods.Despite indigenous rebellions such as that of Haidar Ali, England ruled India for 3 centuries.
Empires in Decline
Ineffective RulersReligious tensionsRising ConservatisimEconomic and technological innovation in decline due to insular culturesEurope influenceConflicts with Europe