the islamic empires of the 16 th century

The Islamic Empires of

the16th Century

The Islamic Empires Three of the greatest empires in world history dominate the Near East and South Asia from 1500-1800

Ottoman Empire (Balkans, Middle East & Eastern Europe)

Safavid Empire (Persia)

Mogul Empire (India)

Ottoman Empire

Safavid Empire

Mogul Empire

The Ottoman Empire (1299-1923)

In 10th century, Turkic nomads enter Middle East & convert to Islam

Fierce warriors, many settle down and become like their Byzantine and Persian neighbors

100 years later, they found the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire (1299-1923) Mehmet II (r. 1451-1481)

Expands the Ottoman Empire into Southern Europe

Conquers Constantinople! (1453)

Becomes capital of OttomanEmpire

Topkapi Palace (built 1463)

Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) Conquered much of North Africa, Central Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, relied on gunpowder

Called the “Lawgiver” for government reform, cultural achievements and simplifying system of taxation

Controlled trade routes into interior


Strong central government

State religion: Sunni Islam

Followed Islamic law (sharia)

Other religions tolerated

Arts, sciences and literature flourish

The Safavid Dynasty (1501-1722)Shah Ismail I : Founder

Came to power at age twelve

Conquered Persia (modern-day Iran)

Took title of “Shah” (king)

The Safavid Empire (1501-1722)

Strong central government

State religion: Shia Islam

Large wealthy middle class: people rich from trade

Golden Age of 1588-1629 (under Shah Abbas I): increased knowledge in science, medicine, mathematics and the arts

Safavid Empire most famous for its silk and carpet weavings

“Youthful Lovers” by Reza Abbasi (1565–1635)

The Safavid Dynasty (1501-1722)

The Taj Mahal (1648)

Babur (1494-1530) Age eleven: inherited kingdom in Central Asia

Elders took it away and drove him to the south

Raised army, swept south into modern-day India and laid foundation for the Mogul Empire

Akbar (1556-1605) Known as the “Great One”

Expanded the Mogul Empire throughout Indian Subcontinent

Equipped army with heavy artillery

Very religiously tolerant: created a peaceful India for Hindus and Muslims

Turned enemies into allies

Unified land of 100 million people

The Mogul Empire (1526-1857) Located in India

Moguls: Muslim rulers descended from Genghis Khan

Early Mogul Empire noted for religious tolerance

Produced finest and most elegant art and architecture in the history of Muslim dynasties in India

Both Hindu and Muslim artists collaborated

Empire commanded wealth and resources unparalleled in Indian history

The Mogul Empire (1526-1857)

China in the 16th Century:

The Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

20

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Kublai Khan dies in 1294 and the Mongols lose control of China

A series of rebellions drive them out

In 1368, a rebel leader named Zhu Yuanzhang becomes Emperor.

He unites the country and sets up his capital at Nanjing in southern China.

There, he founds the Ming, or “Brilliant,” dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

After 30 years, his son Yong Le becomes Emperor

1421: Yong Le moves the capital north to Beijing and builds a large area of palaces and government buildings known as the Imperial City

The center of the Imperial City was known as the Forbidden City.

Yong Le

The Forbidden City

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Ming Dynasty considered “one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history.”

Why?

Ming emperors made all the decisions but educated officials carry out their orders.

Every few years Ming officials compiled a census to collect taxes more accurately.

In the early years of the Ming dynasty, China’s economy began to grow.

Rising Economy Canals and farms destroyed by the Mongols are rebuilt

Forests are planted and new roads paved

Agriculture thrived on new farmland

Grand Canal repaired: rice and other goods could be shipped north to south

New types of rice imported from southeast AsiaThis helped feed the growing number of people living in cities

Rising Economy The Ming supported silk industry and encouraged farmers to grow cotton and weave cloth. China becomes wealthy through production of fine silk, cloth, paper, pearls, and porcelain.

The Voyages of Zheng He

The Seven Expeditions of Zheng He(1405-1433)

Early Ming emperors curious about the world outside of China

They wanted the rest of the world to know about China

So, they built a huge fleet of ships

From 1405 to 1431, Emperor Yong Le sent the fleet on seven overseas voyages.

He wanted to trade with other kingdoms, show off China’s power, and demand that weaker kingdoms pay tribute.

The leader of these journeys was a Chinese Muslim and court official named Zheng He.

Zheng He (1371-) Born to Hui people in modern-day southwestern Yunnan Province, still under Mongol influence

Religious affiliation: Islam, syncretism with Taoism and Buddhism

Taken to Nanjing as a eunuch to serve in Ming Imperial Household; becomes Head Eunuch

Confidant of the Third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty

Appointed Admiral: as a Muslim he could more easily negotiate with Muslim merchants on Indian Ocean


Seven naval expeditions to over 30 countries sponsored by the Ming in order to:

Establish/maintain Chinese presence in SE Asia

Impress foreigners from the Indian Ocean

Impose imperial control over trade

Extend tributary system and collect pledges of loyalty from other kingdoms


Over 300 ships including 62 treasure ships (called junks) 28,000 crew: sailors, clerks, interpreters, officers, soldiers, artisans, doctors, traders, astrologers Largest naval force in world history before World War I

Another example contrasting ship size…The largest ship was over 440 ft long, making it more than five times as long as the Santa Maria that Christopher Columbus sailed 90 years later.


Zheng He took his first fleet to SE Asia. In later voyages he reached India, sailed up the Persian Gulf to Arabia, and even landed in East Africa He traded Chinese goods, like silk, paper and porcelain for black silver, spices, wood and other goods. When he was in Africa he bought giraffes and other animals for the Emperor’s zoo.

As a result of these voyages, Chinese merchants settled in Southeast Asia and India where they traded goods and spread Chinese culture.

The Voyages End Despite the benefits of the voyages many Chinese officials didn’t want them They thought they were too expensiveThey also thought it was bad for China to be exposed to new ideas from the outside world:

Confucius taught that people should place loyalty to society ahead of their own desires and to the Chinese officials, China’s merchants were disobeying this by working to gain money for themselves.

After Zheng He’s death in 1433, the Confucian officials persuaded the new emperor to stop the voyages.The boats were taken apart and no more were allowed to be built.China’s trade with other countries declined and within 50 years, the shipbuilding technology was forgotten.

Native Peoplesof the

Americas

Following Slides:Homework and

Worksheets

Name: Date:Compare/Contrast:The Ottoman, Safavid and Mogul Empires

Ottomans

Safavids

Moguls

What do they

hold incommon

?

Social and Economic Religious and Cultural Political and MilitaryGeographic

the islamic empires of the 16 th century

Documents