The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest and long lasting empires in history. It was an empire inspired and sustained by Islamic institutions. In its highest power, during the 16th and 17th centuries, its controlled territories in South Eastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. It contained 29 provinces and numerous vassal states, naming Constantinople (modern day Turkey) its capital. The Ottomans fought the Byzantines until claiming that turkey is now theirs. This state helped them so much to rise in power and its geographical location was great to do many activities that rose the financial income and put the empire in a great position and power.
Religion was very important in the Ottoman Empire, and it had a great influence on various activities done in the empire. Economy and Education were two of the many things that religion had an influence on and impacted. Religion also changed the social classes and their order. Architecture was completely changed due to the Muslim architects and the way they put it together .Finally trade was one of the most important activities in the empire, which was also done and changed by Muslims which traded by their own religious customs and religions.. These are the subjects that will be fully explained further in the essay, and you will know why and how religion had so much influence on the Ottoman Empire.
Economy was greatly influenced by religion in the Ottoman Empire. The Millet System was created. In this system, non-Muslim people were considered subjects of the empire but weren’t subjects to the Muslim faith or law. For example, the Orthodox millet was granted a number of special privileges in the fields of commerce, and had to pay higher taxes than Muslim subjects. This increased the income and the economy of the Ottoman Empire. A lot of millets were similar. The millet was referred to “personal law” which communities were allowed to rule themselves under their own religious systems. This helped the economy because there were several millets which had different incomes so when all put together, the empire’s income is at a high point. Every religion had its own millet. This was a very important system and it tells us why the religion had a great impact on economy.
Social classes were based on the religion. The Ottoman Empire was considered an Islamic empire because its founder was a Muslim. Unlike any other state or empire, classes were taken not by the job or income but by religion. As millets had its part in economy, it also has its part in social class. Muslim millets were the highest class society and were treated equally as the other millets but other religions had to pay more taxes. The millets were created to prevent wars within the empire by religious reasons. Muslims were in the high class, followed by Christians, then the Jews. All people, religions, and millets had their general protection from the sultan. Other than the millets, people had other classes like the Ghulam, which was a non-Muslim slave. Another was the Ghazi, which was a warrior who fought for the sake of Islam. Most of the empire’s laws and system was based on the Islam’s laws and system. That's why social classes were greatly influenced by religion.
Education was also directed towards religion. In Muslim millets, they taught them Islamic religion and how to pray. Each millet educated the children to its own rules and regulations of its religion. All children were raised and brought up to always pay their complete allegiance to the empire and to their sultan. In the Devshirme system, especially in the Balkans, they had to surrender 20 percent of their male children and taken to the palace school. These children would then be taught everything they need to know about the Islamic religion. Some of these children grow up to be educated and some join the military. Janissaries were people who served in the elite military crops. All millets served education for the empires children and to keep them updated about their religion. Religion was very important and everyone had to learn and study a holy book and understand its messages, because it helps education and raises the empire.
Architecture fully changed by the religion. Islamic religion almost conquered the way architects worked. A system called Tanzimat “reorganization” was created to get rid of the millet system. After Tanzimatm all churches looked slightly like mosques. Tanzimat also brought all parts of the society together. All religions had their liberty and right within the empire. All buildings within the empire leaned a little too traditional Muslim buildings. They included the carvings in Arabic and some Quran was written on the walls of the houses and buildings. The whole empire looked Islamic, even though it had non-Muslims. That's how religion impacted on architecture.
Trade was very important. It was done by Muslims. Muslims traded by their own traditions and customs of their religion. The Ottoman Empire was in a great place geographically and had many ports. Muslims were known as great merchants and traders. They also traded with many Arab countries and spread their religion through trade. This is why trade was truly changed in the Ottoman Empire by Muslims. Religion had a great impact on trade in the Ottoman Empire.
In conclusion, most of the empires events and structure was based on religion. Religion also had a very strong impact on the way of ruling and building. It helped run the empire smoothly and in order. Due to the founder’s religion, Islam was very important in the Ottoman Empire. After many years that the empire held itself up high, westerners rose even higher and ruined all the work of the empire. Soon it declined then after a while it ended. If not with the help of religion to help the country rise, Egypt wouldn’t have been a country now. In my opinion this was a very important empire in our history. Hope you enjoyed.
Wikipedia. “The Ottoman Empire. “Accessed November 27th, 2011.http://en.wikipedis.org/wiki/Ottoman Empire.
BBC."Ottoman Empire (1301-1922)."Accessed November 27th,2011.http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ottomanempire_1.shtml.
AP World History Wiki."Effect of Religious Conservativism on Ottoman Empire. “Accessed November 27th, 2011.http://apwhwiki.pbworks.com/w/page/363169/Effect%20of%20Religious%20conservativism%20on%20Ottoman%20Empire.
