HIST 237 Final, Fall 2005

HISTORY 237 Final Exam January 20, 2006 Instructions: Answer all three parts as required. PART ONE: Answer one of the following Questions: 1. Reconstruct a meeting of the imperial council (Divani Humayun) in the late 1530s or early 1570s. Identify participants, major domestic and external issues under discussion and contributions that could be made by individual members. 2. Imagine the life of a timariot (timar holder) in a period of three years in any one of the following locations: Anatolia, Rumelia or Syria, in the course of the Ottoman Safavid war of the early 16th century or the Ottoman-Habsburg wars of the 16th century. Your account of his life should include his relations with: peasants on his timar, members of his retinue, provincial authorities and other timariots. 3. Imagine the life of a janissary in the 1520s reconstructing his life in the barracks, preparation for the Hungarian campaigns of the period and the siege of Vienna and subsequent retreat. Part II: Answer any one of the following questions: 1. The period from about 1450-1566 in Ottoman history is generally referred to by o significant characteristics of this period that warrant this description; otherwise, suggest a different term (or terms, if you think the period is divisible). Go into details and use your general knowledge and readings to substantiate your argument. 2. Despite its control of almost all the principal trade routes between the Far East and the West by the early 16th century the Ottoman Empire lagged behind Western Europe in the development of a capitalist economy. Explain this by reference to the Ottoman economic system and other internal factors as well as relevant external developments. 3. th century and what impact did they have on the Ottoman subject classes 4. Discuss Ottoman political, military and economic relations in the 15 th and 16th centuries with any two of the following European powers: France, Venice, the Habsburg Empire. Part Three: Identify or comment briefly on any 3 of the following items: 1. the battle of Marj Dabiq (background, significance) 2. iltizam (applications, consequences) 3. the Celali rebellions (bacjkground, significance) 4. and its uses 5. the millet system 6. capitulations 7. Roxelana (Hurrem Sultan)