Professional Documents
Culture Documents
All were Muslim, had strong militaries and employed gunpowder technology These are the first post-Mongol Islamic empires to use gunpowder weapons extensively. Most militaries shifting to gunpowder at this point: Chinese invented it, Europe imported it from Mongols.
Consolidated control over Anatolia Fought Christian enemies in Greece and in the Balkans. Captured Serbia and the Byzantine capital of Constantinople in 1453. Established a general border with Iran.
Monumental architecture usually is categorized as cultural. How can it also be categorized as political?
How can monumental architecture display political power of a ruler? How can monumental architecture legitimize political power of a ruler? Answer these two questions by analyzing architecture of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires.
Hagia Sophia
Built by Emperor Justinian. Remember we studied the Hagia Sophia in Chapter 14 way back in August? What do you already know about this example of monumental architecture?
Can you determine which elements are from the Byzantine Empire and which reflect the Ottoman Empire? More pictures of the Hagia Sophia: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/hagiasophia
Do you see any of the artistic elements of (religious) Islamic art : geometric, calligraphy, vegetal, or figural?
Blue Mosque
The Sultan Ahmet Mosque was built by Sultan Ahmet I between 1609 and 1616.The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.The beautiful geometric interior of the Blue Mosque was designed by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, a student of the great Ottoman architect Sinan. Istanbul Turkey
Ottoman Empire.
Chaldiran
The Ottomans used artillery to defeat the Safavids and this set a set border between the empires which remains the border between Iran and Iraq today Shahs from then on adopt the use of artillery to military and expand empire to the northeastbringing Christians under Safavid rule.
Built new capital at Isfahan- used Chinese potters to produce glazed building tiles and Armenian immigrants to weave carpets
Employed a mix of Chinese and Safavid artists created metalwork, miniature paintings, calligraphy, glasswork, tiles, and pottery Early Safavid carpets are based on Persian themes but over time, they incorporate European designs after Abbas sends artists to Italy to study under Renaissance artists like Raphael