Gunpowder Empires
Empire:
o Vast territory or collection of states, nationalities or communities that are
incorporated through military conquest, annexation or negotiated unification
and ruled under the supreme leadership of a stronger foreign power.
o Roman Empire, Songhai Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the. British
Empire
o Political, military and economic unity whereby one state dominates over a
collection of formally independent territories
o “Unequal relationship between a core state and a periphery of one or more
states controlled from the core”
o Controlled by an Emperor
Gunpowder empires: Marshall G.S Hodgson and William McNeill
o Islamic empires that emerged on the basis of gunpowder weapons and other
specialized military artillery which allowed them to impose their political and
bureaucratic systems over others
o Military patronage states growing out of Mongol nations of greatness
o “Monopolize” new weaponry and out maneuver enemies
Gunpowder Empires: 15th and 16th centuries in
Asia
1. Ottoman Empire [Turkey]
2. Safavid Empire [Iran]
3. Mughal Empire [India]
Established after Chinese invention of gunpowder.
Firearms, cannons and large armies characterized their success.
During the Late Middle Ages the role changed as its military value improved
— Noise for shock and fright > propulsion of missiles and destroying walls
, — Artillery use aided Islamic Empires’ rise and expansion
— Re-organization of army tactics and other element within state
Rouhan D’Souza critiques Hodgson’s perspective and says that:
1. Disputes the notion of gunpowder empires
2. Firepower was not sufficient factor explaining the power of these empires
3. Warriors on horseback were more efficient than infantry warriors firing
muskets
4. Mounted archers had better tactical mobility while gunpowder infantrymen
were bogged down cumbersome weapons and time-consuming techniques
BUT
1. Importance of Islamic civilization and its importance in world history
2. Dynamism of Islamic traditions and systems
3. Frameworks and methodology of world history
4. Important within a context of increased Islamaphobia
Ottoman Safavid Mughul
Turkish predecessors Turkish predecessors Turkish predecessors
Muslim Muslim Muslim
Against Christian Subdued Hindu- Subdued Caucasus
Europe dominated Indian sub- and Central Asia
continent
1300-1923 1501-1736 1526-1857
Fully-fledged states
Central Asian warrior organizational tactics perfected by Ganghis Khan and
state-making models of the Ummayads, Abbasids and Seljugs
Efficient and well-organised cavalry
Canon, light artillery and other firearms
Empire:
o Vast territory or collection of states, nationalities or communities that are
incorporated through military conquest, annexation or negotiated unification
and ruled under the supreme leadership of a stronger foreign power.
o Roman Empire, Songhai Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the. British
Empire
o Political, military and economic unity whereby one state dominates over a
collection of formally independent territories
o “Unequal relationship between a core state and a periphery of one or more
states controlled from the core”
o Controlled by an Emperor
Gunpowder empires: Marshall G.S Hodgson and William McNeill
o Islamic empires that emerged on the basis of gunpowder weapons and other
specialized military artillery which allowed them to impose their political and
bureaucratic systems over others
o Military patronage states growing out of Mongol nations of greatness
o “Monopolize” new weaponry and out maneuver enemies
Gunpowder Empires: 15th and 16th centuries in
Asia
1. Ottoman Empire [Turkey]
2. Safavid Empire [Iran]
3. Mughal Empire [India]
Established after Chinese invention of gunpowder.
Firearms, cannons and large armies characterized their success.
During the Late Middle Ages the role changed as its military value improved
— Noise for shock and fright > propulsion of missiles and destroying walls
, — Artillery use aided Islamic Empires’ rise and expansion
— Re-organization of army tactics and other element within state
Rouhan D’Souza critiques Hodgson’s perspective and says that:
1. Disputes the notion of gunpowder empires
2. Firepower was not sufficient factor explaining the power of these empires
3. Warriors on horseback were more efficient than infantry warriors firing
muskets
4. Mounted archers had better tactical mobility while gunpowder infantrymen
were bogged down cumbersome weapons and time-consuming techniques
BUT
1. Importance of Islamic civilization and its importance in world history
2. Dynamism of Islamic traditions and systems
3. Frameworks and methodology of world history
4. Important within a context of increased Islamaphobia
Ottoman Safavid Mughul
Turkish predecessors Turkish predecessors Turkish predecessors
Muslim Muslim Muslim
Against Christian Subdued Hindu- Subdued Caucasus
Europe dominated Indian sub- and Central Asia
continent
1300-1923 1501-1736 1526-1857
Fully-fledged states
Central Asian warrior organizational tactics perfected by Ganghis Khan and
state-making models of the Ummayads, Abbasids and Seljugs
Efficient and well-organised cavalry
Canon, light artillery and other firearms
