The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest empires of the world. It lasted for more than 6 centuries. The Ottoman Muslim Turks governed the Ottoman Empire. It controlled Western Asia, South East Europe, and North Africa. The Ottoman Empire was inspired and motivated by Islam. Although it was kind of an Islamic empire, there were Christians and Jews, but for many reasons they were second class people. The Ottoman Empire was a long lasting powerful empire.
Religion affected the Ottoman Empire in so many ways. It had an affect on almost everything in the empire. Some of the things that religion affected were Social Classes, Language, Art, Economy and the Military.Social classes was effected by religion by that christians were treated as second class citizens. Language was effected by religion by that only muslims knew how to read and write arabic because of the Quran. In art, the muslims couldn't draw pictures nude or draw pictures of god, so they had this fancy handwriting called calligraphy. Economy was one of the most things that were affected by religion. Muslims made christians and Jews pay taxes due to the fact that they are under a muslim rule and muslim protection. Lastly, the military was affected by religion the most. Only muslims were required to fight for the empire while Christians and Jews could choose wether to go or not. If they chose to fight for the empire as muslim (even though they weren't) then he and his daily will be relieved from the heavy taxes they were put on them. Religion had a really huge effect on the Ottoman Empire.
There were three religions in the Ottoman Empire. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The main religion in the empire was Islam. Even though Muslims did not force their religion on others, they treated Christians and Jews as second-class citizens. Christians and Jews had limited freedom. Christians and Jews were not treated like Muslims. For Example, Christians and Jews were not allowed to carry weapons with them or ride better horses than the Muslims because that would be overlooking those of Muslims. In the end, Christians and Jews had really harsh limitations.
The Ottoman Empire spoke three languages. Turkish, Persian and Arabic. Most of the people spoke Turkish because it was it was the main and official language. Persian was a hard and complicated language. Not all the people spoke it. Only the educated spoke in Persian. Arabic is the only one that came with religion. It came with Islam. Every Muslim read Arabic because it was the language of Islam so they knew Arabic well. In the end, Islam identified Arabic.
Art was one of the aspects that religion had an effect on in the Ottoman Empire. Muslims denied representing god with pictures o they used something called Calligraphy. Calligraphy was sort of like handwriting, but it was a type of visual art. They used to write words in a fancy way-representing god and that was the way of their art. Calligraphy was their way of representing god.
Religion had a huge affect on the Economy of the Ottoman Empire. Religion gave the Muslims advantages of taxes on Christians and Jews for not converting to Islam. According to the Islamic Shareea, people with different faiths living under a Muslim rule have to pay taxes called Cizya. In other words, who ever that does not convert to Islam had to pay Cizya (gizya) or taxes. Another reason for making Christians and Jews pay taxes was matter of protection. That meant that because they are under Muslim rule and Muslim protection they had to pay for these services.
The military was one the things that got affected by religion. Non-Muslim men weren’t required to go to for the empire like Muslims did. All Muslim men (that are healthy and have no sisters or parents to take care of) are required to fight for the empire. Muslims even made a deal with the Christians and Jews. If they go into battle with the Holy Muslim Army and pretend as Muslims, they and their family will be relieved from the Cizya or taxes. Religion helped the Military to grow and expand.
Religion really helped the empire to grow and expand. Religion affected almost everything the empire was all about. Although Christians and Jews were kind of treated harshly, the managed put up with these things. Religion had a great effect on the whole empire. If it was not for religion, the empire would not have been successful as it was.
Bibliography/ Citation:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ottomanempire_1.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ottomanempire_1.shtml
-Wikipedia Organization. “Islamic Calligraphy.” Accessed November 26, 2011.
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http://www.globaled.org/nyworld/materials/ottoman/turkish.html -Wikipedia Organization. “Language.” Accessed November 29, 2011.
