The Ottoman Empire

Sultan

"one with power"; title for Ottoman rulers

1453

Constantinople falls to the Ottoman Turks

Ghazi

A ghazi is a Muslim conqueror who tries to convert people to Islam through conquest. The original Ottoman conquerors were ghazis.

Jizya

A tax paid by all "dhimmi" in the Empire, so they did not serve in the army. The Muslim served in the army and did not pay this tax.

Mehmed II and Constantinople

Constantinople was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. It is in modern-day Turkey and on the Bosporus Strait. The Bosporus Strait was important because it controlled trade between Asia and Europe and the Mediterranean and the Black Seas. The Ottomans conquered Constantinople under Mehmed II. The Ottomans conquered it because it was the last piece and capital of the Byzantine Empire, it was a Christian city (with the Hagia Sofia, great Christian church, which the Ottomans made a mosque) and it was on the Bosporus Strait.

Infidels

Infidels are non-believers. The Christians were infidels to the Muslims because the Christian do not believe in Islam. The Muslim originally targeted the Christian infidels.

Reasons for Religious Tolerance

Nomadic pastoralists and Islamic rulers have a tradition of religious tolerance. The Jews and the Christians are people of the book.

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern side of the Roman Empire and they continued after the Western side fell. They were Christians who practiced Eastern Orthodox traditions. They had the great city of Constantinople. They were great targets for the Ottomans because they were Christian infidels.

What region were the Ottoman Turks from?

The Ottoman Turks originate from Central Asia, they were pushed out by the Mongols in conquest. Then, they settled started their conquest in Asia Minor/ Anatolia, which is present day Turkey.

Ottoman Government

The Ottoman had a centralized government. Their policies for the empire are decided by the sultan and advisors. The people had some autonomy (freedom to make local rules) but, they must report back to the main government.

Dhimmi

The arabic word for people of the book, the Jews and Christians

Devshirme

The devshirme or "the blood tax" was a tax on the Christians in the Ottoman Empire. They had to give up their sons at a young age to the Ottomans to be trained. The Ottoman treated them well, converted them to Islam and taught them Turkish and Arabic. When they grew up, depending on their talent, they would go to the Palace School or be a Janissary. In the Palace School, they would be trained to become government officials. The Janissaries became apart of an elite group in the army. The Ottomans had the devshirme so they would have loyal people in the government.

Who was Osman Bey?

The founder of the Ottoman Empire. His name means ruler chief. He was the first sultan.

Ottoman Economics

They practiced agriculture, this was evidence of the Ottoman transition from nomadic pastoralists to settled rulers. They practiced trade, which make sense because of their nomadic pastoralist traditions and access to trade routes.

Who were the Ottoman Turks?

They were Muslim Turks who originally were nomadic pastoralists.

Why did the Ottomans begin conquest?

They were ghazis who were trying to spread Islam and the Mongols pushed them out of their original land.

Millets

They were religious communities made of and ruled by people of their own religion. This benefited the Ottoman Empire because it keeps peace and stability and prevented rebellion.

In what ways were the Ottoman Turks similar to the Mongols ?

They were religiously tolerant rulers and originally nomadic pastoralists who became settle rulers.