The Gunpowder Empires

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The Gunpowder Empires

• Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal Islamic Empires

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Nomadic Nature of Origins

• All three empires were founded by Turkic speaking
  nomads
• Founding leaders took advantage of power vacuum
  left by Mongols

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Decrease in Size of Nomadic Zones

• 200-1400 CE Central Asia was dominated by nomads
• By 1400, this area began to be dominated by
  peasants and landlords.
• Turks began to settle down.
• Cavalry not as important by 1400, but instead
  gunpowder weaponry becomes key.

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Common Characteristics

• Each lasted fairly long Ottomans late
  1300s-1918, Safavid 1500-1722, and the Mughal
  1500s-1850.
• Each had stable borders and identified with a
  particular region.
• Each had an impact on the religious composition
  of their region.

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Diverse Empires

• All three were tolerant to non-Muslims within
  their empires but not tolerant of rival Muslim
  sects (Sunni Ottomans vs. Shia Safavid)
• Cultural exchange between the three led to great
  artistic and architectural achievements.

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Mehmed II (Ottoman)
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Suleiman I (Ottoman)
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Shah Abbas I (Safavid)
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Babur (Mughal)
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Akbar (Mughal)
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Decline of the Empires

1. Indifferent to Europe and did not keep up with
   European scientific and technological advances.
   Europeans took greater advantage of revolution in
   gunpowder technologies.
2. Lack of strong bureaucracies allowed the military
   to gain influence over and independence from
   central government.

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Decline (contd)

• 3. Rivalries with each other (religious).
• 4. Problems holding together diverse empires.
• 5. Failure to see rising threat from Europe.
• 6. Loss of Indian Ocean sea trade revenues due to
  take over by Europeans (still impacts region
  today.)