Activity Worksheet

August 27, 2022

World History 2 (Modern and Contemporary Era)

Learning Task 1
Briefly explain the importance of each of the following to the Ottoman, Safavid, or Mughal
empires (30 pts).
1. Suleyman the Lawgiver - Suleyman’s law code prescribed penalties for various criminal acts and for
bureaucratic and financial corruption. He also sought to reduce bribes, did not allow imprisonment
without a trial, and rejected promotions that were not based on merit. He also introduced the idea of a
balanced budget for governments.
2. devshirme – A policy or a system wherein the sultan’s army drafted boys from the peoples of
conquered Christian territories. The army educated them, converted them to Islam, and trained them
as soldiers.
3. janissary - An elite force of 30,000 soldiers. They are trained to be loyal to the sultan only. Their
superb discipline made them the heart of the Ottoman war machine.
4. shah - Ancient Persian title means king that can establish an Empire. Ismai’il established the Shi’a
Islam as the state religion.
5. sultan - Meaning “overlord” or “one with power. Ottomans ruled through local officials appointed by
the sultan and often improved the lives of the peasants. Most Muslims had to serve in Turkish armies
and make contributions required by their faith. Non-Muslims did not have to serve in the army but had
to pay for their exemption with a small tax.
6. Shah Abbas - Abbas the Great took the throne in 1587. He helped create a Safavid culture and golden
age that drew from the best of the Ottoman, Persian, and Arab worlds. He reformed military and civilian
life, his government, and made a great improvement in industry, trade, and art, between the empire
and European nations.
7. Akbar - Babur’s grandson which means great. Akbar rules India with wisdom and tolerance from 1556
to 1605. Akbar is a military conqueror that equipped his armies with heavy artillery, a liberal ruler that
tolerates cultural blending, revival of art and literature in his time, and devoted in architecture that
portrays Hindu themes.
8. Sikh - This was a nonviolent religious group whose doctrines contained elements similar to Hinduism
and Sufism (Islamic mysticism). However, the Sikhs see themselves as an independent tradition and not
an offshoot of another religion.
9. Taj Mahal - In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died at age 39 while giving birth to her 14th child. To enshrine his
wife’s memory, he ordered that a tomb be built “as beautiful as she was beautiful.” Fine white marble
and fabulous jewels were gathered from many parts of Asia. This memorial, the Taj Mahal, has been
called one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Its towering marble dome and slender minaret
towers look like lace and seem to change color as the sun moves across the sky.

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10. Aurangzeb – Third son of Shah Jahan who’s a master at military strategy and an aggressive empire
builder, Aurangzeb ruled from 1658 to 1707. He expanded the Mughal holdings to their greatest size.
However, the power of the empire weakened during his reign.

Learning Task 2
Answer the following questions in one or two paragraph (s) (40 pts).
The Ottomans Build a Vast Empire
1. Why were the Ottomans such successful conquerors?
 The rulers based their power on strong armies, advanced technology, and loyal administrative
officers. They have a well-trained army and modern weapons that easily conquers most of the
surrounding area. The Ottomans established a Muslim empire that combined many cultures and
lasted for more than 600 years. Osman establishes a Muslim state and his successors expanded
it by buying land, forming alliances with some emirs, and conquering others. The Ottomans’
military success was largely based on the use of gunpowder. They replaced their archers on
horseback with musket-carrying foot soldiers. They also were among the first people to use
cannons as weapons of attack. Even heavily walled cities fell to an all-out attack by the Turks.
The Ottomans acted wisely toward the people they conquered.
2. How did Mehmed the Conqueror show his tolerance of other cultures?
 After proving that he is a magnificent warrior and conqueror and he saw what a large number
had been killed and the ruin of the buildings, and the wholesale ruin and destruction of the City,
he was filled with compassion and repented not a little at the destruction and plundering. Tears
fell from his eyes as he groaned deeply and passionately: “What a city we have given over to
plunder and destruction.” Mehmed opened Constantinople to new citizens of many religions
and backgrounds. Jews, Christians, and Muslims, Turks and non-Turks all flowed in. They helped
rebuild the city, which was now called Istanbul.
3. Why was Selim’s capture of Mecca, Medina, and Cairo so significant?
 Selim the Grim took the intellectual center of the Muslim world and Islam’s holy cities which the
once-great civilization of Egypt had become just another province in the growing Ottoman
Empire. Capturing Mecca, Medina, and Cairo gave the Ottomans almost total control of Muslim
world.
Case Study: Cultural Blending
4. What are some of the causes of cultural blending in the Safavid Empire?
 The Safavid Empire produced a rich and complex blended culture in Persia. The causes of
cultural blending are migration, pursuit of religious freedom or conversion, trade, and conquest.
The blending that contributed to the culture of the Ottomans depended on some of these
activities. Surrounded by the peoples of Byzantium, the Turks were motivated to win territory
for their empire. The Ottoman Empire’s location on a major trading route created many
opportunities for contact with different cultures. Suleyman’s interest in learning and culture
prompted him to bring the best foreign artists and scholars to his court. They brought new ideas
about art, literature, and learning to the empire.

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5. In what ways did the Safavids weave foreign ideas into their culture?
 The Safavids established Shi’sm mixed with the features and elements of the Persian civilization.
Isma’il’s son Tahmasp adopted the use of artillery with his military forces. Abbas recruited from
the Christian north and modeled after the Ottoman janissaries. He equipped both of these
armies with modern artillery. The Shah built a new capital at Esfahan with a design that was a
showplace for the many artisans, both foreign and Safavid, who worked on the buildings and the
objects in them. Shah Abbas brought hundreds of Chinese artisans to Esfahan. Working with
Safavid artists, they produced intricate metalwork, miniature paintings, calligraphy, glasswork,
tile work, and pottery. This collaboration gave rise to artwork that blended Chinese and Persian
ideas. The Western influence on the Safavids is the demand for Persian carpets. This demand
helped change carpet weaving from a local craft to a national industry. In the beginning, the
carpets reflected traditional Persian themes. As the empire became more culturally blended, the
designs incorporated new themes. In the 16th century, Shah Abbas sent artists to Italy to study
under the Renaissance artist Raphael. Rugs then began to reflect European designs.
The Mughal Empire in India
6. In what ways did Akbar defend religious freedom during his reign?
 Akbar continued the Islamic tradition of religious freedom. He permitted people of other
religions to practice their faiths. He proved his tolerance by marrying Hindu princesses without
forcing them to convert. He allowed his wives to practice their religious rituals in the palace. He
proved his tolerance again by abolishing both the tax on Hindu pilgrims and the hated jizya, or
tax on non-Muslims. He even appointed a Spanish Jesuit to tutor his second son.
7. How did Akbar’s successors promote religious conflict in the empire?
 Akbar created a great system of religious blending but his successors like Jahangir and Nur Jahan
won’t have the same advocacy as Akbar did. The rejection of Khusrau, their son, affected more
than the political future of the empire. It was also the basis of a long and bitter religious conflict.
Jahangir tried to promote Islam in the Mughal state, but was tolerant of other religions. Khusrau
rebelled and turned to Sikhs. Jahangir’s son and successor, Shah Jahan, could not tolerate
competition and secured his throne by assassinating all his possible rivals. He is also obsessed
with beautiful buildings and to support this extravaganza, more and more taxes resulted to
famine in the land.
8. Why did the empire weaken under the rule of Aurangzeb?
 Aurangzeb had drained the empire of its resources. Over 2 million people died in a famine while
Aurangzeb was away waging war. Most of his subjects felt little or no loyalty to him. This loss of
power was due largely to Aurangzeb’s oppression of the people. He rigidly enforced Islamic
laws, outlawing drinking, gambling, and other activities viewed as vices. He appointed censors to
police his subjects’ morals and make sure they prayed at the appointed times. He also tried to
erase all the gains Hindus had made under Akbar. His actions outraged the Hindus. Aurangzeb
levied oppressive taxes to pay for the wars against the increasing numbers of enemies. He had
done away with all taxes not authorized by Islamic law, so he doubled the taxes on Hindu

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 merchants. This increased tax burden deepened the Hindus’ bitterness and led to further
rebellion. As a result, Aurangzeb needed to raise more money to increase his army. The more
territory he conquered, the more desperate his situation became until the empire fell.

Learning Task 3
In a chart, compare and contrast the Mughal Empire under Akbar, the Safavid Empire under
Shah Abbas, and the Ottoman Empire under Suleyman I. (30pts)

Government Reforms Cultural Blending

Akbar Mughal Empire Mughal Empire
- Akbar recognized military power as - As Akbar extended the Mughal Empire,
the root of his strength. he welcomed influences from the many
- Akbar equipped his armies with cultures in the empire.
heavy artillery - Persian was the language of Akbar’s
- He appointed some rajputs as court and of high culture.
officers. - Out of the Mughal armies, where
- The combination of military power soldiers of many backgrounds rubbed
and political wisdom enabled Akbar to shoulders, came yet another new
unify a land of at least 100 million language. This language was Urdu, which
people—more than in all of Europe means “from the soldier’s camp.” A
put together. blend of Arabic, Persian, and Hindi, Urdu
- Akbar governed through a is today the official language of Pakistan.
bureaucracy of officials. - The arts flourished at the Mughal court,
- Created a taxation policy similar to especially in the form of book
the present-day U.S. graduated illustrations. Some of the most famous
income tax, calculating it as a Mughal miniatures adorned the
percentage of the value of the Akbarnamah (“Book of Akbar”), the story
peasants’ crops. of the great emperor’s campaigns and
- He gave generous land grants to his deeds. Indian art drew from traditions
bureaucrats. However, there is a developed earlier in Rajput kingdoms.
policy that can prevent feudal - Akbar devoted himself to architecture
aristocracies. Their children would not too. The style developed under his reign
inherit the land or benefit from their is still known as Akbar period
parents’ work. So the officials architecture. Its massive but graceful
apparently saw no point in devoting structures are decorated with intricate
themselves to their property. stonework that portrays Hindu themes.
- He continued the Islamic tradition of
religious freedom.
- He permitted people of other religions
to practice their faiths.
- He proved his tolerance by marrying
Hindu princesses without forcing them
to convert.
- He allowed his wives to practice their
religious rituals in the palace.
- He proved his tolerance again by
abolishing both the tax on Hindu pilgrims
and the hated jizya, or tax on non-
Muslims.
- He appointed a Spanish Jesuit to tutor
his second son.
Abbas Safavid Empire Safavid Empire
- Abbas helped create a Safavid -To convince European merchants that
culture and golden age that drew from his empire was tolerant of other
the best of the Ottoman, Persian, and religions, Abbas brought members of
Christian religious orders into the

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 Arab worlds. empire. As a result, Europeans moved
- Shah Abbas reformed aspects of into the land. Then industry, trade, and
both military and civilian life. art exchanges grew between the empire
- He limited the power of the military and European nations.
and created two new armies that - He hired foreigners from neighboring
would be loyal to him alone. One of countries to fill positions in the
these was an army of Persians. The government.
other was a force that Abbas recruited - Abbas created a force and recruited
from the Christian north and modeled from the Christian north and modeled
after the Ottoman janissaries. He after the Ottoman janissaries.
equipped both of these armies with
modern artillery.
- Abbas also reformed his government.
He punished corruption severely and
promoted only officials who proved
their competence and loyalty.
- He hired foreigners from neighboring
countries to fill positions in the
government.
- Take Old Persian Empire
- Expand to Caucasus Mountains
- Build a new capital at Estafan
- Use janissary-style army to control
the empire
Suleyman Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire
- Suleyman’s law code prescribed - As a Muslim, Suleyman was required to
penalties for various criminal acts and follow Islamic law. In accordance with
for bureaucratic and financial Islamic law, the Ottomans granted
corruption. He also sought to reduce freedom of worship to other religious
bribes, did not allow imprisonment communities, particularly to Christians
without a trial, and rejected and Jews. They treated these
promotions that were not based on communities as millets, or nations. They
merit. He also introduced the idea of a allowed each millet to follow its own
balanced budget for governments. religious laws and practices. The head of
- Suleyman was a superb military the millets reported to the sultan and his
leader. He conquered the important staff. This system kept conflict among
European city of Belgrade in 1521. The people of the various religions to a
next year, Turkish forces captured the minimum.
island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean - Suleyman had broad interests, which
and then dominated the whole contributed to the cultural achievements
eastern Mediterranean. of the empire. He found time to study
- Applied their immense naval power poetry, history, geography, astronomy,
and occupied coastal cities. mathematics, and architecture.
- Developed a Highly Structured Social - He employed one of the world’s finest
Organization. Binding the Ottoman architects, Sinan, who was probably
Empire together in a workable social from Albania. Sinan’s masterpiece, the
structure was Suleyman’s crowning Mosque of Suleyman, is an immense
achievement. complex topped with domes and half
- Under the devshirme system, the domes. It includes four schools, a library,
sultan’s army drafted boys from the a bath, and a hospital.
peoples of conquered Christian - Art and literature also flourished under
territories. The army educated them, Suleyman’s rule. This creative period was
converted them to Islam, and trained similar to the European Renaissance.
them as soldiers. An elite force of Painters and poets looked to Persia and
30,000 soldiers known as janissaries Arabia for models. The works that they
was trained to be loyal to the sultan produced used these foreign influences
only. Their superb discipline made to express original Ottoman ideas in the
them the heart of the Ottoman war Turkish style. They are excellent

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 machine. examples of cultural blending.
- Move into Byzantium
- Take Constantinople
- Add Syria and Palestine
- Use janissaries and devshirme to
control the empire

Reference:
Chapter 18 – The Muslim World Expands

Student Profile
Name: Penny Goyena Besid
Course & Year: BSEd Social Studies III
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Penny Besid
Bicol University Gubat Campus

Submitted to:
Juan Paul Legaspi
World History 2 Professor

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