Discussion # 10, Hist 1.1: Ottoman Empire

Topic: Ottoman Empire and Tolerance

When the Seljuk state collapsed and the Mongols withdrew, the Ottoman Turks took over as champions of the Muslim cause against the Byzantine Empire. The crusades helped to weaken the Byzantine Empire to Ottoman encroachment. Murad and his successors established the Ottoman Empire. Despite the setback of defeat by Timur, the Ottomans continued to set their sights on Constantinople. In 1453, Mehmed II the Conqueror succeeded in this goal. From this point on, the Ottoman Empire evolved from an Asian-based Turkish political and social system into a multi-ethnic, intercontinental state. Under Suleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman Empire reached its zenith. After his rule, however, a series of factors led to decline. The Ottomans were known for their tolerance of other religions and for granting limited autonomy to communities that paid their taxes and remained loyal. However, they could also practice severe repression and violently crush any dissent. The Sultan was often advised by religious scholars known as Ulama; they warned the Sultan against adopting foreign and non-Muslim traditions and ideas and were reactionary forces against any attempt at modernization.

Directions:

Read your textbook and notes, do some careful research, and watch the videos. This involves some role-playing: Pretend you are an adviser to the Sultan and he is asking for advice about granting more freedoms and rights to religious minorities within the Empire. Advise the ruler to grant these freedoms because it would be good for the economy, for progress, and it would create more dynamic ideas within the empire. Give examples of how the empire would benefit from this tolerant policy.

This post is your opinion and there is no right or wrong answer. Your points will be based on completion of the assignment (based on the rubric) and whether you use support from the text, lecture, or internet. 6 points total, 3 for your initial post and 3 for replying to someone's post. Your post should be about a paragraph long and your reply to someone's post should be a paragraph as well.

I recommend that you create your initial post by May 19, at 11:59 pm so that others may have an opportunity to reply.

You must also contribute a Response to 1 classmate's post: Read another student's post and pretend you are an Ulama to the same ruler and you disagree with the idea of being too permissive of other religions and foreign ideas. What do you think is the main danger in being tolerant and open to outside ideas?

Posts can have more than one reply. Follow the netiquette guidelines below and use evidence to support or disagree with the original post. This is not a place for insults or arguments so use proper language such as "Your are a very wise, but I think that ..."

Your Response is due by May 20, at 11:59 pm.

• There is no option to turn this assignment in late.
• Click on the reply button, below to get started.

Purpose:

To evaluate student's critical analysis of historical events.

Rubric:

To view the rubric attached to this discussion, click on the gear box in the upper right and select Show Rubric. 

Netiquette:

• Be kind and respectful to others
• Use full sentences
• Avoid jargon and acronyms
• Use language that supports others