The Ottoman and Safavid Empires

• ​In the 14th century, Ottomans moved into Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor.

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• ​Will capture Constantinople and take over Byzantine Empire

​Chamboz at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

• ​Spread empire onto 3 continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa

• ​Defeated at Vienna in 1529

• ​Considered the most powerful leader in Europe or the Middle East

• ​Ruled by edict

• ​Used absolute power though he did have a council of advisers

• ​Laws guided by Sharia law

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Suleiman_bas-relief_in_the_U.S._House_of_Representatives_chamber.jpg

• ​Islam is the dominant faith

• ​Three social classes

• ​Converted the Hagia Sophia into a mosque

• ​Build a powerful military

• ​Dominant navy

• ​Janissaries were an important part of society

• ​Lasted until the end of WWI

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4b/Janissaries_with_soup_kettles_and_the_regimental_spoon.jpg

• ​Persia, modern-day Iran

• ​Practiced Shi'a Islam

• ​Often fought with Ottomans and the Mughals

• ​Capital city was Isfahan

• ​The Safavids will be replaced by the Qajar Shahs

• ​The capital is moved to Tehran

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Safavid_Empire_1501_1722_AD.png

• ​Brought back the glory of Persia

• ​Centralized the government

• ​Created a strong military

• ​Used diplomatic relations with Europe and the Ottoman Empire

• ​Forged economic ties to Europe

• ​Isfahan becomes a silk center

• ​Armenians brought to Isfahan because they controlled the silk trade

• ​Created a Christian settlement for them and they governed themselves

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Shah_Abbas_the_Great_receiving_the_Mughal_ambassador_Khan%E2%80%99Alam_in_1618.jpg