Gemmina Alberico
One of the main factors that allowed the Ottoman Empire, especially when looking at the Golden Age, to flourish was its basis on religious tolerance. The Ottoman Empire of course had its emphasis in its Islamic character, but at the same time allowed its diverse population to practice the religion they pleased, unlike other empires such as the Spanish Empire. When looking at the Ottoman Empire, specifically the Golden age under the Sultan Suleiman who was known as the Lawgiver, it is important to note how religion also played a part and had influences in law.
The Ottoman Empire for the most part embraced its religious diversity, it did not try to convert people of non-Islamic faith, or persecute them from being of another faith. The Ottoman empire itself was built on the foundation of diversity, according to Empires in World History “in making their empire, Osman and his descendants drew on the civic culture of Greek and Latin cities; institutions produced by Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other religious groups” (129).Within the Ottoman Empire there was peace and harmony among the diverse religious population, however this can’t be said for its neighboring empire to the west the Hapsburg Empire. Before the Hapsburg Empire Spain was under Muslim rule, but in 1492 the last Muslim ruler was defeated and a Christian empire began to be developed. Of course this new Christian empire that developed was not as accepting of a diverse religious population as the Ottomans were to say the least. According to Empires In World History this new Christian empire “had a drive to rid the polity of non-Christian elements. Some 200,000 Jews, forced to choose between conversion and expulsion, left Spain. Many ended up in the Ottoman empire, which made more room for religious diversity” (121). The Ottoman Empire sheltered many of these people that were fleeing from religious persecution and gave them a place they could call home. The Hapsburg empire not being religiously tolerant like the Ottomans led them to face many difficulties, for example they lost huge chunks of their population that decided to leave instead of convert, which did not help their economy, the Catholic monarchy was also challenged within its own umbrella of Christendom, when regions of the empire converted to Protestant, which caused revolts of Protestants against the Catholics. As we can see here the Ottomans were much better off with their diverse religious population then the intolerant empire of the Hapsburgs who faced problems because of their intolerance. It can be said that the Ottomans religious tolerance was one of the factors that allowed them to prosper longer than the Hapsburg Empire.
Instead of forcing its non-Islamic populations the Ottoman Empire established communities for non-Muslims organized by religious groups such as Jews and Christians. These communities were known as millets, within the millets Jews and Christians were allowed to practice their own religious traditions and educate its people on their religion. They were able to have their own churches and synagogues where they could go and pray. Each millet had a community leader that was responsible for their millet, the leader had to maintain its own infrastructure. As well as maintaining their own infrastructure the millets of course had to abide by Ottoman law. Even though millets had to abide by ottoman law in most cases they were allowed, according to Empires in World History, to settle their own legal matters on the bases of their religion .Instead of having one massive uniform empire, the Ottoman “government merely provided a framework which enabled the different groups- Christians, Jews, Arabs, Turks, Berber, merchants, ulama, tariqahs and trade guilds- to live together peacefully, each making its own contribution, and following its own beliefs and customs. The empire was thus a collection of communities, each of which claimed the immediate loyalty of its members” (132).
The rest of the Ottoman Empire’s Muslim population aided by a different form of law than the Jews and Christians, this law is known Shariah. Shariah system of law is intertwined with the Islamic religion, law and religion in this case can’t be separated. According to Karen Armstrong author of Islam “under Suleiman Shariah received a more exalted status than in any previous Muslim state. It became the official law of the land for all Muslims, and the Ottomans were the first to give regular form to the Shariah courts” (133). Shariah law is about mediating situations to find social harmony to keep communities and societies stabilized. Lying in a Shariah court of law would be lying to God, the Shariah law is seen as the law prescribed by God therefor it can’t be changed or question. During the Ottoman Empire the sultans were seen as being "the guardian of the Shariah.....Thus Shariah was made to endorse the system of absolute monarchy" (134), obviously working in the favor of the Sultans.
As we can see religion played a major part in the shaping of the Ottoman Empire and how it affected law and the structure of the empire. Under Suleiman religious minorities, non-Muslims did not have to fear religious persecution or expulsion, like other empires. The Ottoman Empire’s religious tolerance paved the way for the Ottoman’s Golden Age and allowed it to prosper.
The Ottoman Empire for the most part embraced its religious diversity, it did not try to convert people of non-Islamic faith, or persecute them from being of another faith. The Ottoman empire itself was built on the foundation of diversity, according to Empires in World History “in making their empire, Osman and his descendants drew on the civic culture of Greek and Latin cities; institutions produced by Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other religious groups” (129).Within the Ottoman Empire there was peace and harmony among the diverse religious population, however this can’t be said for its neighboring empire to the west the Hapsburg Empire. Before the Hapsburg Empire Spain was under Muslim rule, but in 1492 the last Muslim ruler was defeated and a Christian empire began to be developed. Of course this new Christian empire that developed was not as accepting of a diverse religious population as the Ottomans were to say the least. According to Empires In World History this new Christian empire “had a drive to rid the polity of non-Christian elements. Some 200,000 Jews, forced to choose between conversion and expulsion, left Spain. Many ended up in the Ottoman empire, which made more room for religious diversity” (121). The Ottoman Empire sheltered many of these people that were fleeing from religious persecution and gave them a place they could call home. The Hapsburg empire not being religiously tolerant like the Ottomans led them to face many difficulties, for example they lost huge chunks of their population that decided to leave instead of convert, which did not help their economy, the Catholic monarchy was also challenged within its own umbrella of Christendom, when regions of the empire converted to Protestant, which caused revolts of Protestants against the Catholics. As we can see here the Ottomans were much better off with their diverse religious population then the intolerant empire of the Hapsburgs who faced problems because of their intolerance. It can be said that the Ottomans religious tolerance was one of the factors that allowed them to prosper longer than the Hapsburg Empire.
Instead of forcing its non-Islamic populations the Ottoman Empire established communities for non-Muslims organized by religious groups such as Jews and Christians. These communities were known as millets, within the millets Jews and Christians were allowed to practice their own religious traditions and educate its people on their religion. They were able to have their own churches and synagogues where they could go and pray. Each millet had a community leader that was responsible for their millet, the leader had to maintain its own infrastructure. As well as maintaining their own infrastructure the millets of course had to abide by Ottoman law. Even though millets had to abide by ottoman law in most cases they were allowed, according to Empires in World History, to settle their own legal matters on the bases of their religion .Instead of having one massive uniform empire, the Ottoman “government merely provided a framework which enabled the different groups- Christians, Jews, Arabs, Turks, Berber, merchants, ulama, tariqahs and trade guilds- to live together peacefully, each making its own contribution, and following its own beliefs and customs. The empire was thus a collection of communities, each of which claimed the immediate loyalty of its members” (132).
The rest of the Ottoman Empire’s Muslim population aided by a different form of law than the Jews and Christians, this law is known Shariah. Shariah system of law is intertwined with the Islamic religion, law and religion in this case can’t be separated. According to Karen Armstrong author of Islam “under Suleiman Shariah received a more exalted status than in any previous Muslim state. It became the official law of the land for all Muslims, and the Ottomans were the first to give regular form to the Shariah courts” (133). Shariah law is about mediating situations to find social harmony to keep communities and societies stabilized. Lying in a Shariah court of law would be lying to God, the Shariah law is seen as the law prescribed by God therefor it can’t be changed or question. During the Ottoman Empire the sultans were seen as being "the guardian of the Shariah.....Thus Shariah was made to endorse the system of absolute monarchy" (134), obviously working in the favor of the Sultans.
As we can see religion played a major part in the shaping of the Ottoman Empire and how it affected law and the structure of the empire. Under Suleiman religious minorities, non-Muslims did not have to fear religious persecution or expulsion, like other empires. The Ottoman Empire’s religious tolerance paved the way for the Ottoman’s Golden Age and allowed it to prosper.