Osman I (Osman Bey): 1299-1326

With the fall of the Mongol Empire, Osman Bey united a group of Turks in Anatolia (East Turkey) forming the Muslim Ottoman empire.

As Ottoman power grew, they began to challenge the weakened Byzantine Empire, uniting Turkey and sacking Constantinople in 1453.

Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

The Height of the Ottoman Empire

Islamic ‘Gunpowder’ Empires• By the mid -1500s three

Islamic Empires emerged. • Ottoman, Safavid,

Mughul Empires established with the help of European weapons tech.

Mehmet I: 1413-1421

Mehmet II: 1444-1445; 1451-1481

aka “The Conqueror” aka “The Faith Sultan”

The Ottoman Bureaucracy

SULTANSULTAN

DivansDivans

Social / MilitaryDivans

Social / MilitaryDivans

Heads of Individual

Religious Millets

Heads of Individual

Religious Millets

Local Administrators& Military

Local Administrators& Military

Landowners / Tax CollectorsLandowners / Tax Collectors

MuslimsMuslims JewsJews

ChristiansChristians

Divan= Grand Vizier and the ruling class (nobles).

Wealth and rank wasn't always inherited, rather it had to be earned. Military service was key.

Millet: “Nation”

Faith Mosque

The Ottoman Capital -- Constantinople

“Golden Horn” – 15c map

“Golden Horn” from space

“Golden Horn”

Sunset on the “Golden Horn”

Europeans vs. Turks

The Fall of Constantinople: 1453

Siege of Constantinople, 1453

The End of the Byzantine Empire

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia - interior

Selim I, ”the Grim”: 1512-1520

-Claimed that he was the rightful heir to Islamic traditions under the Arab Caliphs.

-Expanded the Ottoman Empire making Istanbul the center of Islamic civilization.

-Embraced the use of European gunpowder weapons “Gunpowder Empires”

Janissaries

-Christian subjects drafted into the Sultan’s Army

-Devsirme System: A systematic ‘recruitment’ of Christian boys into the Ottoman army.

-Boys were enslaved, converted to Islam and subject to rigorous training and extreme discipline. This practice created a very effective fighting force.

-Janissaries eventually gained substantial political power and influence, resulting in their disbandment in 1826.

Janissaries used firearms.

Suleiman the Magnificent:(1520-1566)

Suleiman’s Signature

-Suleiman was a great supporter of Islamic arts.

-During his reign the Ottoman Empire experienced a Golden Age.

Qur’an Page:Arabic Calligraphy

Calligraphy

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque - interior

-Over 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles!

Prayer Rug,16c Ottoman Empire

Illuminated Qur’an Page

Illuminated Qur’an Page

Qur’an Page:Abraham’s Sacrifice of

Isaac

Qur’an Page: The Angel Gabriel

Visits Muhammad

Collection of Taxes in Suleiman’s Court

Conversations Between Muslims & Christians

Scholars at the Galata Observatory

(Suleiman’s Constantinople), 1557

Ottoman Invasions into Europe

• Ottoman Empire tried to expand into Western Europe through Hungary

• Attempted to defeat a weakened Holy Roman Empire.

• Stopped by Austrian forces outside of Vienna.

Battle of Lepanto (1571)

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Battle of Lepanto (1571)

European Catholic Maritime States, defeated the main fleet of the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean near Greece.

The victory of the Holy League prevented the Mediterranean Sea from becoming an uncontested highway for Muslim forces, protected Italy from a major Ottoman invasion, and prevented the Ottomans from advancing further into the southern flank of Europe.

The Ottoman Empire During the 16c

Impacts of Ottoman Empire

• Spread of Islam (Constantinople-Istanbul)• Kept Eastern Europe in a state of Feudalism by

blocking western European influence.• Cultural achievements: Mosques, public

works, art and poetry.