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I. The Ottoman Empire
- a. After conquering Constantinople in 1453, they tried to complete conquest of Balkans
- i. Succeeded in taking Romanian territory of Wallachia in 1476, but Hungarian resistance blocked advancement
- ii. Internal problems and need to consolidate eastern frontiers= no more attacks
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I. The Ottoman Empire
Sultain
- a. Sultain Suleiman I the Magnificent
- i. Made Turks a threat again
- 1. Seized Belgrade in 1521 and Hungary by 1526; Vienna not taken
- 2. Extended power into western Mediterranean, threatening to Turk-inize it until the Spanish at Lepanto defeated their fleet in 1571
- a. Still, they held much control over southern Mediterranean shores
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I. The Ottoman Empire
17th Century
- a. 17th century: just another European power
- i. Highly effective governmental system, especially when led by strong sultans or powerful grand viziers (prime ministers)
- ii. Capital (Constantinople) had largest population
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I. The Ottoman Empire
`17th Century Politics
- iii. Politics= factions fought each other for influence and throne
- 1. Sultan would murder brothers to maintain power
- 2. Still, a well-trained bureaucracy of civil servants continued to administer state affairs efficiently
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I. The Ottoman Empire
Military
- i. Military
- 1. Well-organized military system
- a. Janissaries= Christian boys who’d been taken from parents, converted to Muslim, and subjected to harsh military discipline to form elite core of 8000 troops loyal to sultan
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I. The Ottoman Empire
First Half of 17th and Second Half
- i. First half of 17th:
- 1. “Sleeping giant” occupied by domestic bloodletting and severely threatened by Persians
- ii. Second half:
- 1. New line of grand viziersà Ottomans took offensive
- a. 1683: marched through Hungarian plain and seiged Vienna
- i. Repulsed by mixed army of Austrians, Poles, Bavarians, and Saxonsà retreated and pushed out of Hungary
- 1. Never again a threat
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