Culture of the Ottoman Empire

During several centuries, the Ottoman Empire knew rich periods as well from an economic point of view as cultural. It influenced its neighbors of the west (Europe, North Africa) as those of the east (Central Asia, Perse, India). Its position geostrategic made a cultural power for a long time of it of foreground.

Origins of the Othoman culture

Influence on the rest of the world

life in the Ottoman Empire and its influence on the Occident, the Africa and the Asia.

The life of the Sultan to Istanbul is sumptuous. He is the absolute monarch, assisted by Large the Vizier and the Council (Diwan), which meets four times per week. They all are slaves of the sultan. He has a harem trained selected slaves. The administration is very effective and leaves a certain religious liberty. The Empire is divided into areas directed by a Pasha, charges some for 3 years. The judges (Qadi) take as a starting point the Coran, but nonthe Moslems are judged by their chiefs. Close to the Mosquée S emerge the Madrasa S, schools free for the young Moslems. The trade is very important for the Othoman and makes it possible the Chrétiens to be in contact with the Islamic countries. The sultans give an importance considerable to cultural development and artistic. Soliman in particular, is estimated for peace and the tolerance, even if he is also a wild tyrant for other aspects. The Western writers are intrigued by this religion which presents a certain fascination, even if much consider it immoral or describe it like a Christian Hérésie.

Africa

The the Mediterranean is for a long time with the capacity of the Turks buckwheats and the inhabitants of the coastal towns fear to be attacked and taken along like slaves to Tunis, Algiers or Istanbul. The incursions of the Sarrasins into the south of the Italy continue until the beginning of the 19th century. The corsair Aldine Khayr takes again Tunis with the Spaniards in 1534. There, the prisoners become are taken along slaves (as in Algiers).

In North Africa, approximately 40 ' 000 Christian slaves undergo many ill treatments. Among them, there is also some priest S, of which Saint Vincent of Paul. Certain slaves convert with Islam in order to be free. The missionaries are committed avoiding certain forms of Apostasie (Mercédaires, monks of the Ordre of Trinitaires, the Franciscains, the Dominicains and the Capucins).

Holy Vincent of Paul, founder of the Lazaristes, creates with Marseilles a house which becomes the starting point for the priests and the brothers who leave for the mission in North Africa to the service the Christian slaves, in which holy Vincent saw the face of Jesus. These monks go there like Chapelain S of the consulates, and some become even Consul S.

A fact suitable for the Morocco isolated from the remainder of Islam: the king claiming origin of the girl of the Prophet, Fatima, it professes a Islam rigorous, well far from the corruption of the Sultan.

Conversion with the Islam of part of the Black Africa occurs in a peaceful way thanks to the tradesmen and to the laic missionaries. It starts in Ethiopia, with Zanzibar and on the coasts of Madagascar, continuous with the Senegal and partially with the Ghana. However, in many areas, the antiques traditions remain.

Asia

In Persian, a dynasty of origin Chiite succeeds in maintaining a certain capacity by concluding from the agreements with the Othoman .

In India, an Arab invasion already took place in current the Pakistan. They are joined by the Othoman which occupy of vast zones of India. They are installed by the governors of which some seek a Syncrétisme between the Islam, the Hindouisme and the Christianisme.

The extension of Islam joined the borders of the Indonesia, which maintains many traditions autochtones (currently the most important Islamic nation, with 228 million inhabitants including 90% of Moslems), then the Moluques, the New Guinea and Sumatra.

Christian missionaries also arrive in the Far East (India, Japan and especially in China with François-Xavier, Matthieu Ricci and various missionaries Franciscains, Dominicains and especially Jésuites).

Decline of the Othoman culture

August 1st

Othoman culture today

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