Islamic Gunpowder Empires: a comparison
The Islamic Gunpowder Empires: Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal
Common Elements:
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Nomadic Turkish conquerers
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Muslim piety a sign of legitimacy (Sufi influence on leadership)
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Autocratic rule
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Imperial family politics often involved deadly competition
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Influence of women within the Imperial family in spite of lack of public power for women
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Use of jizya tax on dhimmi (protected non-Muslim) populations
Decline:
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Entrenched aristocracy replaces meritocracy.
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Religious tension: conservativism
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Economic peripheralization; loss of tax revenues
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Cost of warfare and bureaucracies
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Failure, sometimes deliberate, to maintain technological development
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“Cultural Insularity” and tendency towards chauvinism
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Ottoman |
Safavid |
Mughal |
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Founding |
1289 – Osman Bey |
1501 – Shah Ismail (r. 1501-1524) |
1526 – Babur “the Tiger” (r. to 1530) |
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Islam |
Sunni |
Twelver Shiism |
Akbar’s “divine faith” |
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Origin |
Anatolia between Black Sea and Mediterranean |
Iran (Tabriz) |
N. India (Kabul/Qandahar) |
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Largest Expanse |
Yugoslavia/Greece, N. Africa, MidEast to Tigris River, Black Sea |
Central Asia, from Tigris river to Gandahar, Caspian Sea to Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean |
Most of India, except southern tip |
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Significant Dates |
1453 – Capture of Constantinople; renamed Istanbul |
1514 – Battle of Chaldiran (vs. Ottomans) |
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Military Institutions |
ghazi “sword of God” |
qizilbash (“red heads”) “slaves of the royal household” |
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Great Leaders |
Mehmed II “The Conquerer” (r. 1451-1481) |
Shah Abbas “the Great” (r. 1588-1629) |
Akbar (r. 1556-1605) Aurangzeb (r. 1659-1707) |
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Cultural Monuments |
Topkapi palace |
Isfahan (capital city) |
Taj Mahal (c. 1650) |
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Population |
Entire Empire |
Anatolia |
1500 – 5M |
1500 – 105M |
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Religious Minorities |
millet system: Christians, Jews. |
Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians |
Toleration varies: Hindus, Jains, Zoroastrians, Christians, Sikhs |
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Exports |
Silk, Spices |
Silk, carpets, ceramics, crafts |
Pepper, jewels, metal craft goods |
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Vices |
Tobacco, Coffee |
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End |
End of World War I (1919) |
1722, mostly absorbed by Ottomans |
late 18c, mostly absorbed by British |
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© 2004, 2006 –Jonathan Dresner
