Bibliography

1. The American Forum for Global Education. "Turkish Toleration." Accessed November 25, 2011.
 http://www.globaled.org/nyworld/materials/ottoman/turkish.html.

2. Ottomanempire. "Ottoman Empire." Accessed November 25, 2011.
 http://www.ottomanempire.com/.

3. The American Forum for Global Education. " Who Are The Turks?". Accessed November 26, 2011.

 http://www.globaled.org/nyworld/materials/ottoman/whoare.html.

4. KidsKnowItNetwork. " Life In The Ottoman Empire". Accessed November 26, 2011.

 http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0333-ottoman-empire-declines.php.

5. Book 

    Quataert, Donald. The Ottoman Empire, 1700-1922. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000

Introduction: How did religion and culture influence the Ottoman Empire?

                   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 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 things that changed and effected 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.  

Outline: How did religion and culture influence the Ottoman Empire?

                               Introduction: The background of the Ottoman Empire.                                                 – Brief overview of how religion and culture effected and changed the Ottoman Empire.

Paragraph 1: What was their religion about?                                                                              Point: The Ottoman Turks practiced Islam.                                                                               Evidence: The people who they had conquered practiced a wide variety of religious beliefs, including Christianity, Judaism, and other religions.                                                                Explanation: To keep peace, the Ottoman Turks allowed their subjects to worship in whatever manner they choose.

Paragraph 2: What was their social classes (society)?                                                                       Point:  people were divided into a number of castes or classes.                                                       Evidence: People were divided into classes based on their importance within the Empire.                                                                                                           Explanation: The highest class was made up of the Sultan, and his family and other top government officials. Below this class were the nobles, and the lowest and largest class were the peasants and farmers.

Paragraph 3: What was their culture?                                                                                                 Point: There was a strong influence from the customs, architecture (art) and languages of Islamic societies.                                                                                                                                           Evidence: The ottomans adapted and modified the cultures of conquered lands and their peoples.                                                                                      Explanation: They learned and took knowledge from the people they conquered; sometimes they adopt their culture as language, food, and clothing.

Paragraph 4: Architecture and art.                                                                                                        Point: Ottoman architecture was a made and created of Iranian influenced Seljuk architectural traditions.                                                                                                                                                    Evidence: Buildings of Konya, Mamluk architecture.                                                                          Explanation: Also the Byzantine architecture; it reached its greatest development in the large public buildings, such as mosques.

Paragraph 5: Carpet-weaving and textile arts.

Point: The art of carpet weaving was very important in the Ottoman Empire.                                    Evidence: Carpets have a great importance both as decorative furniture, rich in religious and other symbolism.                                                                                      Explanation: Turks used carpets and rugs not just on the 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.

Paragraph 6: What was the economy?                                                                                                   Point: The Ottomans saw military expansion and taxes as the main source of wealth, with agriculture.                                                                                                                                               Evidence: Economy was more important than manufacture and commerce.                    Explanation: Western merchants gave more emphasis to manufacture and industry in the wealth-power-wealth equation, moving towards capitalist economics comprising expanding industries and markets whereas the Ottomans continued land holding and agriculture.

Conclusion: How did all these things effect and change the Ottomans Empire. What led to these effects and influence on the Ottomans Empire. How did religion and culture effect the Ottomans Empire. How is the Ottomans Empire today (Turkey). The summary and over all of the entire essay.