TMA 511 - Ottoman Socio-Economic History

The purpose of this class is to study the conquests and administrations of particularly Sultan Selim, the Grim and Sultan Suleyman, the Great. What administrative steps they took and what kinds of plans did they follow for their conquests in order to improve the social and economic standards of the Ottoman Society.  In doing so we will closely examine the ocio-economic institutions of Ottoman Empire. How did these conquests and institutions facilitated in carrying the Ottoman Empire to its zenith and how were these intuitions were corrupted and eventually caused the Empire’s decline and fall.

The Ottoman Empire rose to its zenith through the administration and conquests of Mehmed, the Conqueror, Selim, the Grim and Suleyman, the Law Giver in the Near East and North Africa. However, the Empire eventually declined and fell through the intrigues and political games of the Western powers. These Western powers following the decline were eventually able to blockade the trade routes of the Empire and confiscate its rich underground resources in order to cause the collapse of the Empire. In this class we will study and analyse the social and economic dynamics of Ottoman Empire.

As such we will concentrate on the topics that will facilitate the students in grasping and comprehending how the social and economic institutions of Ottoman Empire were functioning.