ottoman empire

• Ottoman Empire ruled much of Middle East and North Africa from 1453-1918.
• Ottomans were rich from cultivation of cotton, a commodity that allowed it to trade textiles and foods to European and Mediterranean markets.
• Ottomans arose from Central Asian Turkish speaking tribes.
• In late 11th century, they moved westward towards Anatolia in Eastern Turkey and by 1071, they were able to defeat the Greek Christian Army of the Byzantine Empire (Battle of Manzikert near Lake Van).
• Defeat of Byzantine Empire = Ottoman Empire could stay in Anatolia for 3 more centuries, expanding to the Balkan region of Eastern Europe and launched attacks against Byzantine Empire.
• Battle Manzikert = led to domination of Ottoman Turks in Anatolia throughout Turkey and parts of Eastern Europe.
• In 1299. Turkomans were organised as a new state with 'Uthman' as their name from which Ottoman was derived.
• 1453, Ottomans led assault against Constantinople, overran its defences and ended the Byzantine empire. This was then renamed as Istanbul, known today.
• 1516, during the reign of Suleyman the magnificent, Ottomans extended their armies to Syria, Balkans, Iraq, and Egypt. Conquests required new Ottoman Empire to create an administration managing the Arab lands and Arab speaking territories to their south and west and South eastern territories of the Balkans.
• Ottomans sent their armies into Syria, Balkans, Iraq and into Egypt.
• Ottomans settled troops from their armies in the new provinces and became administrators, encouraged to marry local women, creating family ties and administrative bureaucracy linking these new regions into centralised rule from capital of Istanbul.
• Ottoman managed new territories as distant provinces with local officials called Beys, creating military corps Janissaries made out of young men forced to serve in the military.
• Janissaries were allowed to use muskets and new firearms, referred to as the era of Gunpowder Empires.
• As expansion required military organization of army and navy, Ottomans engaged in battles against Europeans and other empires.
• When Portuguese fleets arrived in the Indian Ocean, they attacked and raided coasts of Arabian Gulf and Arabian Peninsula, Ottomans counterattacked in 1550s.
• In 1529, Ottoman army reached Vienna, starting a long military siege to take over the city. Though it was abandoned, this demonstrated their power and determination to expand.
• Ottoman Empire occupied lands joined over land. Western European countries like the British Empire and Portuguese founded empires through the sea.
• Suleyman 1 ruled for half a century and left as Ottoman's greatest ruler. He expanded the territories and established new institutions, courts, colleges and hospitals.
• Suleyman 1 was called the lawgiver or kanuni because of the many laws he decreed.
• Suleyman's conquests included islands in Mediterranean and seizure of lands in Eastern Europe and Balkans. They nearly besieged Vienna when Austrian city on Danube river was besieged unsuccessfully in 1529.
• In 1530s and 1540s, the territories were expanded into areas of Tripoli (Libya) and Algiers (Algeria) by Suleyman. IN 1534, Iraq was taken back from Safavid Empire, giving them access to Arabian Gulf to establish trade routes and engage in naval battles with Portuguese in the Indian coast.
• In Suleyman's death in 1566, Ottoman empire was a major world power, including territories in Syria, Egypt, and parts of Arabia.
• Suleymaniye Complex/Suleymaniye Kulliyesi is a multi-functional complex founded by Suleyman in Istanbul. Done by Sinan.
• Suleymaniye Kulliyesi was built in 1550-1559, giving insight to the Ottoman way of creating institutions for the public to gather for prayer, education, and medical care.
• Suleymaniye Complex included 4 different schools of law, medical school, public baths and kitchen, hospice/informal hotel for visitors and travellers.
• Suleymaniye Complex is located in Istanbul at prominent central place on one of the highest points of the city. Space had open areas for park-like layouts and places to gather outside under shade.
• Central dome of the Complex is supported by flying buttresses supporting its height. The many domes of the mosque is seen from the courtyard.
• Design of the complex is similar to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, constructed around the same time.