Notes

Unit 3.1, 3.2, 3.4: The Gunpowder Empires

Throughout the Classical era of history, multiethnic empires encompassed the world. These states relied on firearms to take over and control territory. This reliance coined them the term “gunpowder empires” around the world. While their conquests were centered around their militaries, these states left various impacts on the lands they controlled.  

The most prominent gunpowder empires, referred to as the “Big Three” were the Islamic Ottoman, Mughal and Safavid Empires. These empires had Turkic origins and rose to power by taking over the declining Mongol khanates. 

The Ottoman Empire: The Ottoman Empire is categorized as the largest and strongest Islamic Empire during this period of history. It was a Sunni Islamic Empire.  

• Its first Sultan was Mehmed II, also known as The Conqueror, who took over the Byzantine city of Constantinople in 1453 using tall bronze cannons. He then renamed the city Istanbul, meaning “In the City” in Greek.

• Sultan Suleiman (also known as The Magnificent) ruled the empire during its prime. He conquered Hungary and nearly touched Vienna. 

• Economically, the Ottomans employed tax farming where local officials would collect taxes from the general population, yet they often were corrupt, frequently taking a chunk of the amount collected. 

• The Ottomans also were characterized by their devshirme system that supplied their military force. Here, young Christian boys (between 8-20) were forcefully conquered from their native European lands, were converted to Islam and would be educated in Ottoman politics and military. 

• Many boys from the devshirme system would go on to become Janissaries, the elite force of the Ottoman army. 

• The Sultan would often use architecture to legitimize their authority and demonstrate grandeur. For the Ottomans, this was seen through the Suleymaniye Mosque constructed under the rule of Suleiman I. 

• The Ottoman Empire would eventually decline as a result of “harem politics” (a mother or wife, who would reside in a harem, would exploit her access to the Sultan to dictate his rule). The Ottomans also lost at the Battle of Lepanto and the Siege of Vienna, significantly weakening them. 

 The Safavid Empire:

• Shah Ismail conquered all of Persia and Iraq, earning him the name of Shah at the young age of approximately 14-15 years old. 

• Ismail specifically employed Shi’a Islam to resist Sunni Authority, creating tensions with the Ottoman Empire.

• Shah Abbas I is known as The Great and facilitated empirical success by importing weaponry from Europe. 

• Over time, excessive luxury and military spending led to its decline. 

The Mughal Empire:

• Initially established by Babur, who claimed descent from the earlier Tamerlane, in northern India. 

• Emperor Akbhar was known for his religious tolerance and general practice of peace. He achieved great political and religious success, leading the empire to great economic and structural success. His bureaucracy was commended and the organization found in his rule allowed him to be well-respected during this time period.

• Akbar had additionally employed zamindars, who were paid government officials, to be in charge of specific tasks such as tax collection to streamline his governance. 

• Despite this, India was ruled by its traditional caste system. Different jatis (social groupings) would determine the jobs of citizens. 

• To demonstrate his authority, later Shah Jahan constructed the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his wife. This established his authority and legitimized his Mughal power, blending Islamic architecture and local arts. 

• The Mughals would eventually decline under the leadership of Aurangzeb, who would drain wealth through his attempted expansion to the South. He also was not religiously tolerant and tried to eradicate Hindus and minority religions from society. 

 

On the other side of the globe, it is critical that we study Russian expansion during this time period. The Russian monarchy was organized under the leadership of the Tsar. 

• Tsar Ian IV (known as Ivan the Terrible) was crowned his title in 1547 and is categorized for his expansion of the empire into regions like Siberia, Astrakhan and Kazan. 

• The Russian Empire did rely heavily on its military and “gunpowder”. 

• Cossacks, who were feisty peasant warriors, were specifically sent to fight against local tribes as expansion continued. Specifically, the Cossacks helped take control of the Volga River that permitted Russia to trade with other parts of the world. 

• Russia went on to expand towards the Pacific Ocean, with its expansion being motivated by fur trade and missionaries (of the Eastern Orthodox faith).

 

East Asian Expansion:

• Prior to the start of the Classical period of history, the Ming Dynasty had overtaken the previous Mongol Yuan Dynasty. In 1644, the Qing Dynasty was established by the Manchu people of Manchuria. 

• Under the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi had resided under a period of general stability. Emperor Qianlong specifically annexed Xinjiang, growing the empire yet killing local populations. He is also known for his policy of isolationism, where he confined European trade to the port of Canton and quite popularly rejected the entry of British goods into his empire.