THE ISLAMIC GUNPOWDER EMPIRES, 1300 - 1650

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CHAPTER 11

• THE ISLAMIC GUNPOWDER EMPIRES, 1300 - 1650

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Themes of World History

• One of the recurring themes in history is the
  cyclical nature of nations and empires.
• Civilizations are born.
• They reach their zenith under extraordinary
  leaders.
• Over time they lose their vitality and strength.

3
New Born out of Old

• The remarkable feature in this cycle is that new
  civilizations emerge out of the decadence of the
  old.
• They are regenerated by new leaders.
• Also regenerated by outside cultural influences.
• Often result in cultural synthesis.

4
Islamic Gunpowder Empires

• Such were the circumstances under which three
  empires emerged
• Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires.
• 1300 - 1650

5
Consolidated Realms

• After the Mongol and Timurid conquests in
  Southwest Asia and Anatolia.
• New Muslim Turcic dynasties began consolidating
  and extending their realms.
• They used military might enhanced by gunpowder
  weaponry.

6
Monumental Task

• Conquering an empire is not synonymous with
  establishing imperial authority.
• The rulers of the new empires faced a monumental
  task in establishing an effective governing
  structure for their domains.

7
Toleration Necessary

• The most outstanding emperors realized that the
  vitality of their empires required a considerable
  degree of toleration for their non-Muslim
  subjects.
• They built upon the foundations of pre-existing
  cultural institutions and ethnically diverse
  populations.

8
Comparison with Europe

• Such toleration was an ideal that stood in sharp
  contrast to the policies adopted by contemporary
  counterparts in Christian Europe.

9
Asia Ascendant

• In the sixteenth century, the Asian empires were
  clearly ascendant.
• They controlled the East-West trade routes.
• They could draw on the ample resources and
  manpower existing within their realms.

10
Arts Flourish

• Emperors also encouraged artistic endeavors which
  endure both as an expression of cultural
  synthesis and as evidence of imperial greatness.

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Decline

• In the latter-half of the seventeenth century,
  the Islamic gunpowder empires began to decline.
  

12
Christian Europe Advances

• A primary factor in their decline was Christian
  Europes economic and technological advances
  during the seventeenth century.

13
Other Factors

• the degeneration in the character of ruling
  dynasties
• the increasing inefficiency and ineffectiveness
  of governing institutions over time
• deviation from policies that drew on the
  strengths of multiculturalism and ethnic
  diversity as pillars of the imperial system.
  

14
YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND

• The regional political, economic, and cultural
  circumstances that contributed to the rise of the
  Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughul empires.
• The important rulers of each empire and their
  achievements.

15
YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND

• The role religion played in advancing the
  authority of rulers.
• The rivalry between the Muslim empires, and their
  relationships with outside powers.

16
YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND

• The distinctive social, cultural, and political
  characteristics of each empire, as well as their
  shared characteristics.