The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish - speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. The Ottomans or the "Osmans" had their name from the first sultan Osman Bay. The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest and longest lasting empires in history. It was one of the most powerful states in the world. It was an empire inspired and conquered by Islam. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it controlled territory in southeast Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. The Ottoman Empire contained 29 provinces and numerous vassal states. The Ottomans blocked all land routes to Europe by conquering the city of Constantinople, the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. So the Europeans had to find other ways to trade with Eastern countries. The Ottoman Empire lasted from 27 July 1299 to 29 October 1923, and it spanned more than 600 years.
There were many things that changed and affected the Ottoman Empire in many ways. Some of the things that influenced the Ottoman Empire were the religion, culture, their social classes, architecture and art, carpet-weaving and textile art, and economy. The Turks of the Ottoman Empire were Muslims, but they did not force their religions on others. Christians and Jews were allowed to practice their own religion. There were social classes that divide people into a number of castes or classes. There was a strong influence from the customs, architecture (art) and languages of Islamic societies. The Ottomans adopted their cultures from the lands and people they conquered. The Ottomans were famous from their architecture and art. They built many famous buildings and mosques. They were also famous from their carpet-weaving and textile arts. The Ottoman Empire was influenced by many things.
Religion was influenced in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Turkish rule was Ottoman toleration of different religious beliefs. The Turks of the Ottoman Empire were Muslims; they did not force their religions on others. The people who they had conquered practiced a wide variety of religious beliefs, including Christianity, Judaism, and other religions. To keep peace, The Ottoman Turks allowed their subjects to practice their religion freely. Non-Muslim (Christians and Jews) had to pay a special tax, the Cizye, in return for protection and military service. The Ottoman tolerance had a success because it had large Christian and Jewish communities that existed in the Ottoman lands until the end of the empire.
In the Ottoman Empire, they had social classes (society). The Ottomans ruled large areas that included many different people and religions. People were divided into a number of castes or classes. People were divided into classes based on their importance within the empire. The empire was consisted of four social classes. First, were the men of the pen, who were the scientists, tax collectors, artisans, poets, and teachers. Second, were the men of the sword, who were the bodyguards, and the soldiers. Third, were the men of negotiation (husbandry), who were the merchants, lawyers, and judges. Forth, were the men of the fields, who were the pig herders, and farmers. The top and important two classes in the Islamic world were the men of the pen and men of the sword. The men of the pen were important because they educate people and their knowledge that will help the empire. The men of the sword were important too because they protect the empire (land) and fight in wars. Then the Ottoman Empire developed three organization systems: the Timar, Devshirme and the Millet systems.
The culture of the Ottoman Empire evolved over several centuries. There was a strong influence from the customs, architecture (art) and languages of Islamic societies in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans adopted and modified the cultures of conquered lands and their peoples. They learned and took knowledge from the people they conquered; sometimes they adopt their culture as language, food, and clothing. Life in the Ottoman Empire was mixture of western and eastern life. The capital of the Ottoman Empire, Constantinople also had a unique culture mainly because it lay on two continents.
The Architecture was part of the ottoman's culture. The Ottomans were famous with their art and architecture. The Ottoman architecture is the architecture of the Ottoman Empire which emerged in Bursa and Edirne in the 14th and 15th centuries. The architecture of the Empire developed from the earlier Seljuk architecture and was influenced by the Byzantine architecture, Iranian, as well as Islamic Mamluk traditions after the Ottomans conquered Constantinople. They did many great developments in the large public buildings, such as mosques. They built many famous buildings and mosques in the 16th and 17th centuries such as Selimiye Mosque in Edrine and The Suleiman Mosque in Constantinople.
The carpet-weaving and textile arts were also part of the ottoman's culture. The art of the carpet weaving was very important in the Ottoman Empire. Carpets have a great importance both as decorative furniture, rich in religious and other symbolism. The weaving of such carpets originated in the nomadic cultures of central Asia, and they were eventually spread to the settled societies of Anatolia. Turks used carpets and rugs not just on floors of a room, but also as a hanging on walls and doorways, where they provided additional insulation. They were also commonly donated to mosques.
The economy was influenced in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans saw military expansion, trade and taxes as the main source of wealth. Economy was more important than manufacture and commerce. Millet system helped increase the economy of the Ottoman Empire. The Millet system was a religious community of non-Muslim. Non- Muslims were able to put rules based on their religion. Non-Muslim (Millet) had to pay a special poll tax (Cizye) in return for military service and protection. This taxes helped increase the economy of the Ottoman Empire, and did not cause any religious fights in controlling land. Economy was also influenced by trade. By trading variety of goods also helped increase the economy in the Ottoman Empire.
In the conclusion, religion and culture influenced the Ottoman Empire in many ways. Religion was very important in the Ottoman Empire which was Islam; Islamic religion as a unifying force that accepted other religions. Culture was adopted from the people the conquered. They have many types of culture. The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful and longest empires in history.
Bibliography:
1. The American Forum for Global Education. "Turkish Toleration." Accessed November 25, 2011.
http://www.globaled.org/nyworld/materials/ottoman/turkish.html.
http://www.globaled.org/nyworld/materials/ottoman/turkish.html.
3. The American Forum for Global Education. " Who Are The Turks?". Accessed November 26, 2011.
4. BBC. “Ottoman Empire (1301-1922)”. Accessed November 29, 2011.
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Quataert, Donald. The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000
