Map Exercise: (map on last PowerPoint slide is extremely helpful) (1) pt. each
· On the blank map, shade in the territorial extent of the Ottoman Empire in green
· Shade in the territorial extent of the Safavid Empire in red
· Shade in all bodies of water in blue
· Locate: Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Adriatic Sea, Caspian Sea, Bosporous Strait, Danube River
· Locate the following cities and label in black:
Istanbul, Bursa, Isfahan, Damascus, Baghdad, Cairo, Vienna, Belgrade
Directions: Using notes from the video, as well as your textbook, (pgs. 578-579), create a chart of pros and cons about living in the Ottoman Empire. (4) points
Pros / Cons- rule of Suleiman brought about a
Golden Age:
· Beautiful cities/buildings
· Good government
· System of laws
· Trade flourished
- strong government with an efficient
civil service: “Men of the Pen + Men of the Sword”
- millet system gave local governments
and their people autonomy
- devshirme system gave people the
opportunity for social mobility / - successors of Suleiman allowed the
government to become corrupt
- people conquered by the Ottomans
were looked on as slaves
- devshirme allowed for the abduction of Christian children
Key Vocabulary: (1/2 point each)
Janissary - elite infantry units within the Ottoman Empire composed of abducted Christian youth
Vizier - highest political advisor to the Sultan
Sultan - political, military, and religious leader within Islamic Empires
Millet - autonomous political units within the Ottoman Empire ruled by their own religious leaders
Devshirme – system of forcible abduction of Christian youth into the military and civil service
Ghazis – Islamic warriors who conquered lands for glory, wealth, and spread of religion
Mehmet the Conqueror - Ottoman Sultan who conquered Constantinople in 1453
Suleiman the Magnificent – greatest Ottoman Sultan; rule led to a Golden Age
Discussion Questions (1) point each
1. What were some of the key features of the Ottoman Empire’s organization that led to its success?
The millet system allowed the provinces to govern themselves, and gave the people religious freedom. This kept the provinces stable and loyal to the Empire. The devshirme system created a new social class that was completely loyal to the Sultan. This social class also provided excellent soldiers and capable bureaucrats. Their government was highly organized and efficient with a system of taxation and record-keeping.
2. What was the reasoning behind the institution of the devshirme policy?
The devshirme policy was designed to provide the Sultan with civil servants and soldiers who owed their allegiance to him, and no one else.
3. Based upon what you saw in the video, was the Ottoman-Safavid rivalry truly about religion? Explain.
Ottoman-Safavid rivalry was over control of Mesopotamia. Religion played a secondary part in this struggle.
4. List three achievements of Suleiman the Magnificent. What, in your opinion, was his biggest mistake?
Three achievements: expanded the borders of the empire, established a system of laws, promoted architecture and the arts. His biggest weakness was not providing for a capable successor.
5. List some of the weaknesses which eventually led to Ottoman decline.
Ottoman weaknesses were: corrupt government and palace intrigue, an inability to industrialize, technological inferiority vis-à-vis the rising European powers. They also lost their monopoly on trade routes to India and China once Europeans began to sail around Africa.