Ottoman-Nigel-Research+Summary

= Research Summary =

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Climate and Geography Factors Events and Leaders Socio-Political Structure Agriculture and the Economy Transportation and Weaponry Energy Works Cited

//Climate and Geography Factors //

 * Predominantly mountainous and lowlands on coastal fringe. (__Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropedia__ 945)
 * spanned 3 continents (Europe, Asia, Africa) therefore very different geography and climate

// Events and Leaders //
  **Osman I**
 * 1299 build on the remains of Eastern Roman Empire of Byzantine (Hill 123-126)
 * Osman I, his land is the start of the Ottoman Empire
 * 1326 conquered city of Bursa, 80 km south of Constantinople - gave centre from which to continue expansion
 * 1389 Murad defeated forces of Serbia, Bulgaria, and Croatia; Ottoman's control of Balkans now
 * in late 1300’s Janissaries started
 * 1453 Constantinople conquered, and renamed Istanbul-Capital of Empire
 * 1516 conquerors Syria
 * 1517 captures Egypt
 * source of income through taxation, and major producer of goods
 * gained control of the 2 holiest cities in Islam: Mecca, and Medina


 * founder of Ottoman dynasty (Hil 124)
 * through marriage and military conquest expanded his territory
 * based empires laws after Seljuk laws ([])
 * helped poor people giving them aid- even his own clothes if need be
 * Murad II**


 * 1423-1430 (__Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropedia__ 948)
 * to counteract power of Turkish nobility built up Janissary using ‘devshirme” system
 * 1948 let the Ottoman forces over victory of the combined forces of Serbia, Hungary and Bosnia conquer Serbia ([])
 * expanded and consolidated Ottoman rule in the Balkans
 * Sultan Suleyman**

(.)
 * Ruled empire for 4 years 1520-1566 (Hill 126-128)
 * Europeans called him “Magnificent"
 * Ottomans called him "lawgiver" - responsible for dramatically changing the army and judicial system.
 * poet & skilled goldsmith
 * known by Europeans as conqueror
 * most feared of Islamic rulers before him
 * pursued aggressive policy of European destabilization, targeted Roman Catholic Church
 * when Protestant reformation movement started and regions split on religious lines he gave financial support to new Protestant countries to ensure their success making Europe a target for invasion - defensive move because if Europe was dealing with it's own issues they couldn't unite and attack Islam
 * made it a policy for the Ottoman Empire to assist any Islamic state threatened by European expansion
 * people felt he had the right to declare himself Supreme Caliph of Islam

// Socio-Political Structure //
([])
 * “Devshirme” system - Christian youths from Balkans drafted and converted to Islam for a lifetime of service - if they entered military entered the Janissary corps (__Encyclopedia Britannica: Mircopedia__ 6__)__
 * Janissary elite army corps - became powerful political force in empire (Hill 127)
 * 2 main classes
 * Ruling class paid no taxes; included the imperial family, owners of large estates, m ilitary and religious leaders (__World Book__ 877)
 * Peasants paid taxes
 * Sultan like King - responsible for protecting them against invasion and abuse by the ruling class
 * profession and class of most people could be distinguished by what they wore
 * almost all women lived restricted lives - Islamic law allowed a man to have 4 wives at a time - woman lived most of their lives in seclusion usually in a different section of a household - t hey were required to wear a veil in public - n on-Muslim women were required to wear veils in public
 * allowed all religious groups to practise faith - Christian and Jews two other largest non-Muslim faiths
 * each religious group formed a “Millet”(nation) whose leader represented it's nations members before the government
 * purpose of Millets to keep people from different religions separated to minimize conflicts (__Encyclopedia Britannica: Macropedia__ 948__)__
 * Neighbourhood mosques served as both religious and social centres - o ther millets had own centres. (__World Book__ 877-878)
 * education stressed religious studies
 * Sultans made all important decisions for empire
 * Sultan appointed officials to collect taxes and to keep peace
 * Oldest son, or favourite son succeeded the throne on death of Sultan

// Agriculture and the Economy //

 * most people worked as farmers. (__World Book__ 877)
 * grain grown in fertile areas of Egypt, Syria, and lands around the Black Sea
 * worker/craftsmen practised their trades in towns and cities
 * empire gained wealth in trade - most trade routes from Asia to Europe went through Empire
 * merchandise available in markets included Chinese porcelains, European woollens, Persian silks, and spices from Asia
 * sheep primary meat source (Hourani 233)

//Transportation and Weaponry//

 * Osman's forces largely mounted archers - their battle tactic was surprise - defensive tactic was to retreat and use lands natural defences - made army of lightly armed but effective raiders (Imber 252-271)
 * used trebuchets and siege towers to attack walled cities
 * mined under castle walls, set fire to tunnels wooden support poles causing collapse of tunnel and section of the wall above the ground
 * earliest Ottoman weapon on record is Turkish bow - fired from horse back
 * weapon played important role in sea and land battles into the 16th century
 * later adopted the crossbow, for its use in fortresses
 * //Azab// (Ottoman foot soldier) used bows, swords, shields, and a small axe - later equipped with lances, javelins, arrows, and iron cudgels
 * The //timar// (Ottoman cavalrymen unit) skilled in short sword
 * Ottoman law required soldiers to bring their own equipment to battle - equipment depended on local craftsmen abilities and local markets
 * //exception Janissaries// received weapons from central supply
 * most important military development during the rise of the Ottoman Empire introduction of cannons and other firearms
 * tactic - "castle like" fortication of carts and spiked sheilds - //Janissaries// defended with guns
 * used artillery to achieve battlefield superiority
 * In the siege of Constantinople to breach the wall, the Ottoman's used a cannon it was 27 ft long and 17 tonnes in weight
 * called a great bombard
 * Gun powder combustion formula 2 KNO3 + S + 3 C → K2S + N2 + 3 CO2 ([].)



Energy

 * primary energy source wood([])
 * most important industrial material
 * wood being used faster than new growth ex. a large wooden warship used 2000 mature trees
 * when forests began to vanish coal was used as an alternative energy source