The Ottoman and Safavid Empires

1520- 1722

Timeline

• Umayyad Dynasty – until 750 AD• Abbasid Dynasty – until 1258 AD• Ottoman Empire (from Turkey) – 1300’s-1700’s• Safavid Empire (from Persia) – early 1500’s 1700’s

Suleiman the Magnificentaka The Lawgiver

1520-1566

• Modernized army– Expanded Ottoman empire

• Hungary, Mecca, N. Africa

• Improved system of Justice– Based on Sharia = law code– Backed by strong military

• Cultural Advances– Produced literature in

Turkish– Architecture

• Sinan and the Selimiye Mosque

Organization of Ottoman Society• Sultan/Royalty• Men of the Sword

– Soldiers and Janissaries'• Men of the Pen

– Scientists, lawyers, judges, poets

• Men of Negotiations– Merchants, tax collectors,

• Men of Husbandry– Herders

• Millets– Christian community– Jewish community

Were organized and had their own leaders who reported to the Ottoman Empire. Christians in the Balkan’s had to pay a tax with their male children.

Non-Muslims in the Ottoman Empire

• “tax” on Christians in the Balkans– Janizaries– Christian children of the

Balkan's who were taken from their parents

– Raised by the sultan as soldiers, to be elite fighting force. Raised as Muslims to be loyal to the Sultan

– Given the best, colored uniforms, intimidating

Fall of the Ottomans

• Death of Suleiman• Corruption of

government• Fell behind the times• European powers took

Ottoman lands

Safavid Empire (Shiite)early 1500s-1722

• Shah Abbas the Great• Strengthened Military

– Defense from surrounding empires

– Modeled after Janizaries• Encouraged economic

growth– Reduced taxes for farmers– Encouraged industrial

growth– Tolerated People of the Book

Fall of the Safavid Empire

• Death of Shah Abbas• Shiite scholars

challenged authority of the Shah

• Persecution of religious minorities– Rebellion by Sunni’s