The Ottoman Empire

Rise of the Ottoman empire
By the 1400’s, the once mighty Byzantine Empire had been in decline for nearly two centuries
They faced a growing threat from the Ottomans, a nomadic group that had migrated from central Asia to Asia Minor
In 1453, the Ottomans surrounded the capital of Constantinople
During a two month siege, Ottoman cannons pounded Constantinople's city walls allowing attackers to break through and capture the city
The Ottomans changed the name of the city to Istanbul and made the ancient Christian city the capital of their Muslim empire

Ottoman Siege of Constantinople

Geographic Expansion
With well armed forces and effective military strategies, the Ottoman empire grew quickly
After 1453, the Ottomans expanded into the Middle East, Egypt, the Balkans, and Russia
By the 1500’s, the Ottomans had created the largest empire in the Middle East and Europe

Ottoman Expansion

Reasons for Ottoman Success
Ottoman success was largely due to military technology, such as cannons
In addition to cannons, the Ottoman army equipped soldiers with muskets
This improved battlefield success and eliminated the need for cavalry

Clockwise from top left: Constantinople City walls, Ottoman Janissaries, Byzantine flag, Ottoman Cannon

Europeans Search for New Trade Routes
As the Ottoman empire expanded, European trade routes were disrupted
For example, Ottoman control of the eastern Mediterranean interfered with Europe's trade with East Asia
The Portuguese sent sailors out across the oceans to search for new trade routes

Ottoman Territory

Suleiman’s Golden Age
Called Suleiman the Magnificent by westerners, he ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566
He was a Sultan, a name Turks give to their rulers
The years of his rule are considered the Golden Age of Ottoman History
Suleiman strengthened the government and improved the system of justice throughout the empire
Law was based on the Islamic system of law, Sharia
Suleiman held absolute power, but consulted his advisors and council before making important decisions

Suleiman the Magnificent

Ottoman Society
The Ottomans ruled a large area that included many diverse people and religions
The empire consisted of four social classes:
Men of the Pen – highly educated: scientists, lawyers, judges, doctors
Men of the Sword – military personnel
Men of Negotiation – merchants, artisans, and tax collectors
Men of Husbandry – farmers and herders

Ottoman Society Continued
The top two classes were made up entirely of Muslims
Millets – non-Muslim organize religious communities that were allowed to practice their religion freely as long as they paid a tax and obeyed Ottoman law
Janissaries – Boys from non-Muslim families were sometimes required to turn their sons over to the government for military service. The best soldiers became Janissaries, members of an elite force in the Ottoman army

Decline of the Ottoman Empire
Problems developed within the Ottoman empire including poor leadership an corruption
The rising power of European nations also led to it’s decline
The Ottomans were cut off from global trade routes, limiting cultural diffusion and new ideas
By the 1700’s, European technology surpassed that of the Ottomans
European nations began to industrialize while the Ottomans remained an agricultural society

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The Ottoman Empire

by rhalter on Mar 26, 2008

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