OttomanEmpire

Daniel G. (A) Jack D. (B) Alice J. (D) Griffin M. (F) ** The Ottoman Empire ** //SUBTOPICS**:**//

1. Origins- Jack 2. Government & Laws - Alice 3. Warfare - Griffin 4. Art- Daniel


 * Introduction**

In the year 620 A.D., the prophet Mohammed began the religion of Islam in Mecca. Around 700 years later during the 13th century A.D., this religion would become a driving force in one of the most powerful empires in history. The Ottoman Empire thrived on a basis of justice, religious equality, and dedication to Allah. Influences of this religion were felt in all facets of the empire, from the very origins to the system of government. Islam prompted the Ottoman Empire to go to war, but also to create astonishing works of art. Below, these topics are explored in detail to present a comprehensive understanding of a few of the many intriguing aspects of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottomans arose from Anatolia in the west of Turkey. The Turks were called "Oghuz". The empire was small at first but as it grew it became one of the largest and most long-lasting empires.The Ottoman Turks began to absorb other states. They captured most of the Middle East, Egypt, and parts of Eastern and Southern Europe. They captured many territories because they were highly centralized, meaning they had strong rulers. The greatest emperor was Selims son Suleiman, also known as Suleiman the Magnificent. He was the Sultan of Turkey. The empire was ruled by a single family for seven centuries. There are also a few more reasons the empire rose. The Ottomans ruled a military state in western Anatolia by 1300. In other words, empire was one of the biggest and most successful because it had great soldiers. The soldiers defeated other countries, winning more land and expanding the empire. The Ottomans also spread their religon while they were taking over some cities. The empire was inspired by Islam and united the Islamic world. The empire was also well organized. That means they had only one leader, so there was no fighting to see who was the true leader. The empire was one of the most magnificent. The Ottoman Empire defeated many states, which brought them to the top, above everyone else.
 * ORIGINS OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE **

The Ottoman Empire was greatly shaped by the governmental structure and the laws they held. Originally, they inherited political traditions from the Turks, Persians, Mongols, and Mesopotamians, and was greatly influenced by the prevalent religion, Islam. There was an absolute monarchial authority which was passed down from father to son or from brother to brother. However, brothers began to imprison each other, causing the decline of the empire in later years. The ruler was called the Sultan. His main purpose was to guarantee justice, or "adalet", in Turkish. Public agents and officials who were discovered to be corrupt were punished by the Sultan. This was called "siyaset." The Sultanic orders, known as "ferman", were publically displayed so that the people of the empire would know themselves what the taxes and laws were. The Sultan was also the caliph, or the religious leader of Islam. Not only did he unite his empire through this religion, but he also used the Friday prayer service to gauge public sentiments and understand what his people were thinking. Adding to the structure of government was the "Divan", a small advisory group to the Sultan. In later years, the Vizier, an educated wise man, held actual power. This was because many of the later rulers were insane, or unfit to rule. Aside from the Divan and Viziers, and many lower officials, the Sultan possessed absolute control over the realm. Religious tolerance also formed a firm basis of government. Although Christians and Jews paid a special tax known as "jizya", they were not persecuted. The central government delegated daily affairs to "millets", which were small communities of any religion. Millets kept their own schools, courts, and welfare systems, and also built their own roads, buildings, and fountains. Though the Ottoman Empire followed Islamic shariah law as well as the Turkish "kanun" law, the millets were allowed to keep their own systems of justice, regardless of religion. All in all, this strong empire had a system of government and laws that reflected their overall emphasis on justice, equality, and religious tolerance.
 * GOVERNMENT AND LAWS​ ​**

The first Ottoman military unit emerged from Western Anatolia in the late 13th century, organized by Osman the first. It developed the use of bows and arrows, simple swords and spears, and cavalry. However, it was not until the 14th or 15th century that they became experienced with men on horseback. The Ottomans can be called one of the greatest and most powerful civilizations of ancient times because of their ability to succeed in battle. The basis of the Ottoman military, which also allowed them to expand quicker and more efficiently, was their superior cavalry. This highly mobile army unit served as a flexible multipurpose force. Most importantly, it gave them a significant mobility advantage over opposing infantry. The Ottoman empire's warfare tactics were probably some of the best, due to this advanced and organized cavalry. The cavalry had six divisions. The largest and most important of these divisions was the "Sipahis". This formed the basis of the military. Its members served as raiders and protected the foot soldiers as they ran into battle. Other duties of the "Sipahis" included serving as mounted bodyguards, and during times of war, serving as scouts. In times of peace, they were responsible for the collection of taxes and riding with the Sultan, or Muslim ruler, in parades. The cavalrymen, who were chiefly responsible for the Ottoman's early conquests from the 13th to the 16th centuries, gradually developed into a warrior aristocracy. They were granted control over large masses of land, and this feudal system is how the empire was able to control all the land they had. The Ottoman Turks were also among the first military group to use muskets and cannons. The Ottomans began using "falcons", which were small but powerful cannons, during the siege of Constantinople in 1422.
 * WARFARE **



**ART** During the sixteenth century, art in the Ottoman Empire flourished. The burst of this art took place under the Sultan Suleiman. The Ottoman Turks thought that art was very important. To prove this, the sultan, or ruler, personally checked each piece of artwork and rewarded artists for outstanding performances. The objects the artists made were fashioned of gold, jade, rock, crystal, ivory, inlaid wood, and many other materials. During this time, artists also created new techniques, styles, and themes that characterized the artistic vocabulary of the period. These had a very long-lasting impact on Turkish art. Many are still visible today. They spread all throughout the Sultan's land and influenced many other artists. For example, the styles and themes used in manuscript illumination created by court artists were then transmitted into a variety of other media ranging from textiles and rugs to ceramic vessels and tiles. This brought many craftsmen to the center of the Ottoamn Empire to work in the "nakkashane", or imperial printing studio, where hundreds of secular and religious manuscripts were produced. Artist from all over the world were working side by side, producing great artwork that shaped the empire. They produced ceremonial and functional arms and armor, brocaded satin, velvet kaftans and furnishings, flat-woven and pile rugs, and a variety of ceramic vessels and tiles. The skills of the artists ranged from calligraphy to boot making. This artwork from the Ottoman Empire is some of the best ever in history. One of the most well known examples of Ottoman artwork is the Hagia Sophia. When the Ottoman Empire first conquered the Byzantine Empire, they transformed the Hagia Sophia into an imperial mosque which then became a source of inspiration to Ottoman architects.



**Conclusion**

A number of factors led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire, including a lack of competent rulers, severe inflation in the economy, and discord within the military. However, the intricate artwork and complex war tactics intrigue and interest scholars to this day. The influences of Islam, a major building block in the formation of this state, can be seen in cultural and legal aspects of this powerful empire. Overall, although the Ottoman Empire came to an end in 1923, it paved the way for the Turkish state and left behind a strong legacy of history, government, warfare, and culture.


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 * 18) http://www.scribd.com/doc/27304002/Ottoman-Warfare-1500-1700

//Notes: ART//
 * Flowered magnificantly during 16th century
 * court artists created splendid examples of illuminated and illustrated manuscripts
 * objects fashioned of gold, silver, jade, rock crystal, ivory, and inlaid wood; ceremonial and functional arms and armor; brocaded satin and velvet kaftans and furnishings; flat-woven and pile rugs; and a variety of ceramic vessels and tiles
 * formulated unique and indigenous styles, themes, and techniques that not only came to characterize the artistic vocabulary of the period, but which also had a lasting impact on Turkish art
 * impacts still visible today
 * burst of art took placer under Sultan Suleyman I
 * talents ranged from calligraphy to boot making
 * Artists from all over the world worked side by side together
 * artists produced blends of Islam, Europe, and Turkish traditions in the art
 * artistic themes and designs produced for the court soon spread to all corners of the sultan's lands and influenced the artists of neighboring countries
 * sultan personally checked the artists work and rewarded them for outstanding performances
 * most innovative artist belonged to nakkaşhane, the imperial painting studio where hundreds of religious and secular manuscripts were produced
 * created original themes and styles
 * reinterpreted existing themes, experimented with new ideas, and formulated a synthesis which became unique to the Ottoman world
 * styles and themes used in manuscript illumination quickly spread to the other imperial societies and were transmitted to a variety of other media, ranging from textiles and rugs to ceramic vessels and tiles
 * Transformed Hagia Sophia into an imperial mosque and became source of inspiration for Ottoman architechsNotes:

//Notes: GOVERNMENT AND LAWS//
 * Inherited political traditions from Turks, Persians, Mongols, Mesopotamians, Islam
 * Absolute monarchial authority, authority passed from father to son or from brother to brother
 * Brothers imprisoned each other near the end of the empire, caused decline, madness
 * "Viziers", educated wise men, held actual power during end of empire
 * Ruler, called Sultan, guaranteed justice ("adalet", in Turkish)
 * Public agents and officials who were corrupt were punished by the Sultan, known as "siyaset"
 * Sultanic orders, "ferman", were publically displayed (had to do with taxation, laws)
 * Sultan was also caliph, Friday prayers were used to gauge public sentiments
 * "Divan" was advisory group to the Sultan
 * Religious tolerance became basis of government
 * Christians and Jews paid special tax, "jizya", were tolerated
 * Central government delegated daily affairs to "millets", religious communities of any religion
 * Millets kept their own schools, courts, welfare system; built own roads, buildings, fountains
 * Followed shariah law, but millets were allowed to have own laws; also had Turkish "kanun" law

//Notes: ORIGINS//
 * Ottomans rose from the obscure reaches of Anatolia in the west of Turkey
 * The ottmans expanded greatly under Sultan Selim I (1512-1520)
 * Ottomans ruled a small military state in western Anatolia
 * Ottoman Turks began to absorb the other states, and during the reign
 * ottomans were many small Turkish states that emerged in Asia Minor during the breakdown of the empire of the Seljuk Turks
 * clear that Selim was the first disinterested sultan among the Ottomans
 * He was also the first Ottoman Sultan to assume the title of caliph of islam.
 * the eve of his death in 1520, the ottoman empire spanned almost 1 billion acres
 * the empire was inspired by their belief in islam
 * Highly centralised- a strong ruler
 * it was sucsesfully ruled by a single family for 7 centrys
 * the ottomans conquered most of the middle east, egypt, parts of eastern and southern europe.
 * Selim's son, Suleiman- he was the greastest ottoman empire.
 * they collected taxes from the people they ruled.


 * BASIC NOTES:**
 * Early Ottoman expansion took place under Osman I, Orkhan, Murad I, Beyazid
 * During Muhammad II reign, Ottoman's began to absorb other states
 * Founded empire in Western Anatolia
 * Endured for six years
 * Conquered lands from Byzantine Empire and beyond
 * Empire centered in present day Turkey
 * Extended into southeast Europe and Middle East
 * Ottomans were initially nomadic people
 * One of the greatest and most powerful civilizations in the modern period
 * Sixteenth century was moment of glory
 * One of the heights of human creativity, optimism, and artistry
 * Strong, centralized national monarchies
 * Has been described as "The Decline of Faith and State
 * Decline was slow, gradual, interuppted, lasting over three years
 * Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire
 * The fall of the empire was because it was to big, meaning economical problems
 * The empire was small at first but then merged with other.
 * The empire was reunited by Muhammad I
 * Captured constantinople in 1453
 * The empire was one of the most powerful civilizations.
 * Late 13th century to 1923
 * Dynastic family rule
 * Replaced Byzantines as major Mediterranean power
 * Reached apex during Suleiman reign
 * Highly centralized, one person in power
 * Sultan had absolute power, was also caliph
 * Encouraged arts
 * expanded victoriously under Muhammad's successors
 * superior military organization
 * Russo- Turkish wars = breakup
 * empire emerged in Asia Minor during the breakdown of the Seljuk Turk empire

__MESSAGES:__ Hi, it's Alice. I edited everybody's paragraphs, and I think i'll take another final look when everything's done. I also organized the notes at the bottom of the page. I didn't finish the conclusion though, sorry. I can do it during my S.S. period. I also reformatted the whole thing to make it look neater, so be careful when you are typing or adding pictures, because it's difficult to get everything in the right place... the thing is a little weird.

and Griffin: you have 2 paragraphs for warfare and i edited them both, but i'm pretty sure you'll just keep one, right?

thanks people!