The Gunpowder Empires

(1400-1800)
Nomadic Invasions by Mongols led to
changes in the Muslim world

Mughals
Ottomans
Safavids

CONTEXT:
How can we characterize this period
in world history?
Bridge between ancient & early modern
history
Islamic power shift from Arab Muslims to
ethnically Turkic Muslims
Use of gunpowder & other new technologies
for conquest (gunpowder empires)
Cultural, artistic, & architectural
developments still impact regions conquered

Your Task:

We will be learning about the 3

gunpowder empires
You will work to create a Google slideshow
that serves as an overview of each empire
After viewing each groups slideshow, fill
in the Venn diagram & the timeline for
homework
It must be complete by the time we finish
studying all 3 empires

TIPS FOR VENN DIAGRAM

Use the GREATS as a guide
Try to answer the following questions as
well (can overlap with GREATS):

How did they conquer?

How did they treat different religions?
What were their major accomplishments?
Why did they decline?
Why are they important today?

Ottoman Empire at Greatest Extent c. 1699

OTTOMAN EMPIRE
(1281-1922)
Longest lasting & most
successful
1281: founded by Osman
(ghazi)
Later rulers:
Muslims required to do
military service
Non-Muslims paid jizya
Conquered peoples
generally treated well

CONQUEST OF
CONSTANTINOPLE

Mehmet II conquers Constantinople in 1453

Cannons
Hagia Sofia

Golden Age of Suleiman

1520-1566
Expansion
Military leadership
Naval power
Conquest of Europe
(stopped @ Vienna)
Cultural Achievements
Sharia, religious
Social organization
tolerance
Large bureaucracy Efficient
Janissaries
taxation/bureaucracy
Mosque of Suleiman
Devshirme
Blending of Turkish
Millets
artistic styles with
those of conquered
peoples

Decline
Incapable leaders fearful of losing power
Oppressive policies & taxation peasant
discontent and rebellion
Economic decline - illegal trade, inflation
Naval power defeated in Spain and Italy
(Battle of Lepanto - 1571)
Dissolved with the creation of the nation
of Turkey in 1923, after World War I

SAFAVID EMPIRE
(1501-1722)

Saf al-Din (founder)

Iranian origin
Shiite Islam
Persecuted on
religious grounds by
Ottoman Sunni
Muslims
Powerful army to
protect themselves
on both sides

Leadership
Ismaiil strong warrior, 1499
Shiite Islam as state religion in
Iran - no religious freedom
Ottomans and Safavids disagree
on religious tolerance
Ismaiil destroys Baghdad and kills Sunnis
Sunnis kill Shiites in Ottoman Empire

Battle/conquest Golden Age

Golden Age of Shah Abbas: 1587

Cultural blending w/Ottoman,
Persian & Arab worlds
Isfahan
Relations w/Europe & China
Persian carpets
Military reforms (Persian &
Christian armies created)
Modern weaponry
Punished corruption,
emphasized loyalty

ISFAHAN

Decline

Need for power

Incompetent leaders
Peasant discontent
Tribal armies from Afghanistan taking over area
Sunni family took control, but was unsuccessful
Safavids died politically, but never culturally - left behind
a strong Persian cultural legacy

MUGHAL EMPIRE
(1526-1707)
Mughals = Mongols
Muslims in India since
700s
Delhi Sultanate
1398: Tamerlane
invades
Ethnic & religious
conflic follows
1526: Babur founds
empire

Golden Age of Akbar: 1556-1605

Cultural developments
Urdu created
Miniatures
Akbar period architecture
Literary achievements
Religious tolerance
Bureaucracy
included diverse
officers
Akbars wives
Fair taxation
Abolished jizya
Graduated income tax

Conquest of India
Gunpowder
Rajput officers

MUGHAL EXPANSION

After Akbar
1611-1622: Jahangir & Nur
Jahan
Less religious tolerance
Mughals v. Sikhs
1628-1658: Shah Jahan
Hated political competition
Taj Mahal
1658-1707: Aurangzeb
Military leader and empire
builder
Oppressive
Enforced Islamic laws
Outraged Hindus

Decline

Rajputs rebel!
Wars for conquest cost $$taxes
Famine
No loyalty to leader
Weakened central state, power of local lords
grew
Ended in a patchwork of independent states
Trade with Europeans - Indias next conquerors

CONNECTIONS &
PREDICTIONS
1. What similarities do you notice so far
between the three gunpowder empires?
2. What seems to be the most important
effects of the conquests by the
gunpowder empires?