The Ottomans Quiz Flashcards
(24 cards)
Who were the ottomans originally?
Nomadic pastoralists who shared a common language
Some Turks were used during the Abbasid Caliphate as
“mamelukes” or slaves
Seljuk Turks from central Asia conquered much of the
Persian empire
Mongols took much of the Seljuk land in the 1200s and formed the
Ilkhanate
The Ottomans fought the Europeans during the
Crusades
When and how did the Ottomans rise?
During the fall of the Mongol and Byzantine empires, the Ottomans conquered much of Anatolia and used the timar system to reward cavalry. Mehmet II then conquered Constantinople.
What was the timar system?
Granting temporary land grants to soldiers, but ultimately, it always belonged to the crown.
What were the janissaries
Christian boys were educated, trained, and converted to Islam. The”devishirme” system.
What was the millet system
non-muslims could keep their own religious leaders, schools, and courts, but had to pay special taxes.
Many of the people under Ottoman rule were jews who
fled the inquisition in Spain
Who was Suleiman. Why was he called the “lawmaker” and the “magnificent”
He codified Islamic and secular law, reduced corruption, expansion, and encouraged the arts
Why did the Ottomans decline?
A series of weak emperors, government corruption, fratricide, loss of trade due to NEW ROUTES like Vasco Da Gama, Janissary revolts, and rejecting modern technology.
What are some advantages and disadvantages of organizing the Ottoman Empire into millets?
Advantages: stream of income, happier people
Disadvantages: Relied on a strong sultan/administrative system, which wasn’t always present, and a constant divide could facilitate tensions
What was the Delhi Sultanate?
The first muslim-led piece of land in India, located in Northern India, but quickly fractured into a bunch of smaller kingdoms. One of these kingdoms was taken over by Babur.
Who was Babur?
Descended from Timur the Lame and a Khan, conquered a crumb of what was once the Delhi Sultanate, and created the Mughal empire.
Who was Akbar the Great?
A sultan who removed the tax on non-muslims and declared universal tolerance. He used expansion and taxes, incorporating princes who would otherwise be enemies, while reserving the most important positions for Muslims.
Who was Shah Jahan?
A ruler after Akbar the Great, who was more orthodox, built the Taj Mahal while people starved, a patron of the arts who encouraged the production of miniatures.
Who was Aurangzeb?
Very orthodox, got rid of court musicians and poets, taxed non-muslims, sharia law, destroyed Hindu temples,
Who was Jahangir, and what did he have to do with the Sikhs?
Overshadowed son of Akbar, believed that the growing number of Sikhs was a threat because his son was aligned with them, executed a Guru, which led to Sikhs then becoming an enemy of the state.
What is sikhism
A monotheistic religion founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak
Characteristics of Mughal Architecture
Bulbous domes, slender minarets, Cupolas, large halls, vaulted gateways, delicate ornaments
Mughal art and language
Miniature paintings, Persian was the government language, Urdu emerged as the common language.
Why did Europeans want to find new maritime trade routes in the late 1400s?
Muslim middlemen like the Ottomans dominated trade in Asia and had steep fees.
