Who are the Spartans and the Ottomans?

Question

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Answer 1

the Ottomand turks were imperialistic rulers in the time of Vlad the impaler and long after,most of eastern europe and into asia and the middle east.

the Spartans were a military society in greek history ,very tough ,very disaplined ,they expsed the newborn on a cold hill side the weak pershed and the suviving strong were enrolled into the army when they learned how to walk.
dont be lazy google both and you will get a lot of info
in the history channel is a documentory in the warrior series about the spartans

Answer 2

The Spartans were the most feared among the Greeks. Basically fanatical troops that scared the crap out of any of those who face them.
The Ottomans were the ones who took over Constantinople and the rest of the Byzantine Empire, commited the genocide against the Armenians, defiled the Hagi Sophia, and were among the two oldest dynasties in World War One.

Answer 3

Search engines will definitely answers your question (yahoo, google).

For a start...try www.thefreedictionary.com

Answer 4

google it :)

Answer 5

Spartan is the person who lived in sparta.

The Spartan Constitution
Under Lycurgus' constitution, Spartan citizens did have some basic rights. The constitution also mapped out Sparta's political structure. There were always two kings, both military leaders. The kings worked with a council of aristocrats referred to as Gerousia. The Gerousia also handled political and judicial decisions.

Another governing body was the homoioi ("equals"). The homoioi was comprised of Spartan citizens who had survived their required military service, received state land (conquered territories) with helots to work it, and continued to obey Spartan rules. This assembly met regularly and made final decisions on most of the important issues related to Spartan government.


The Spartan Citizen
In Sparta, a citizen was a member of society who was automatically entitled to certain – albeit few – rights Citizens also shared a basic sense of community. That this sense was based on fear of helot uprisings or the desire to profit from them (or both) wasn't important. This communal equality, however, was a minimum. That some Spartans owned their land privately while others had been granted use of state land was irrelevant. It didn't matter that some were high-ranking nobleman and others were 'mere mortals' as all were Spartan citizens, so all enjoyed those same basic rights.

The ottoman..

Social History of the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire,is an interesting social experiment that lasted nearly six-hundred years. The Ottomans dominated the money-rich areas of the Middle East, Asia, and were at one point, considered a major European power. From the 1300’s up until the end of World War I, the Ottoman state was an impressive bureaucracy. It was the frequent updates and changes of the social structure which allowed the Ottoman State to live for so long.

What of its geography? The Middle East (also known as the “Near East” by Europeans) is the area of Southwest Asia. The Balkan states (areas near Greece) were once considered to be part of the Ottoman Empire but have since been stripped of their “Middle East” association. The Ottoman Empire touches five major bodies of water, the Caspian, Black, Mediterranean, and Red Seas, as well as the Persian Gulf.

Most Middle Eastern empires, (the Ottomans were no exception) had the chief parts of their population within a few miles from river valleys. The major rivers in the Middle East are the Nile (in Egypt) and the Tigris-Euphrates Rivers (in present day Turkey, Syria, and Iraq). Most river transport in those times was “one-way”. Rivers’ currents were generally too strong to sail against. The Nile River was the one exception, which partially explains why the Egyptians were particularly powerful in ancient times.

The desert areas of the Middle Eastern peninsula were generally untouched by the Ottomans. Until the advent and importance of oil, these regions were fairly unimportant economically. Though, drought is a typical state for much of the Middle East, it is important to mention that there are areas (such as Yemen) that get significantly more rainfall than typical cities in the Northeastern United States. Areas by the coast of the Black Sea can get as much as four times the amount of rain as Binghamton, NY does in a year.

What of the Middle East’s early history? It begins with the formation of city-states in 3500 B.C.E. in lower Iraq. The communities settled along the river-valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These civilizations prospered and gained written alphabets and religious rituals as a by-product of their incredible resourcefulness. In 1400 B.C.E. political rivals began to emerge and regional empires began to form in place of the city-states. Many great dynasties conquered the Middle East region, including the Egyptians, the Acheminid Empire, and Alexander the Great’s Greeks.

The Middle East has been a very important region in terms of agricultural and mathematical development. It was here in the Middle East that wheat and the concept of the number zero was invented. Turkey (which contained the capital of the Ottoman Empire) was the most populous and prosperous of the Holy Roman Empire’s states. Anatolia (also known as Turkey and Asia Minor, depending on the source of the information) was also the influence for Hellenic ideas. There are still “Greek Ruins” in present day Turkey.

The Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire’s successor, controls the lion’s share of the Middle East. It follows then that the Middle Eastern people are mostly Greek Orthodox Christian and Greek speaking. There are still a few pagan religions or more correctly animist religions that play a role in society. The animists are famous for their practice of tying ribbons on to trees in an effort to receive favors from the spirits.

Another religion that refused to be completely crushed was the religion of Zoroastrianism. Founded by Zarathushtra, the religion was Monotheistic, a true departure from the time when it was made. Its date of origin is suspect but is likely 600 B.C.E. These are Persian (read Iranian) areas where Persian is spoken and the government is known as the Sasanian Empire. The religion had a profound effect on Judaism and Christianity and is still alive today, followed by (according to www.religioustolerance.org) some 140,000 people. This religious sect put up a monumental fight with the Byzantine Empire. Some historians say that the Iranian Zoroastrians were a constant thorn in the side of the Byzantine Empire and may have been one of the chief causes of the Byzantine collapse.

Where did Islam come from? Muslims believe that Mohammed received revelations from God (or more specifically the Angel Gabriel) from 610 to 632 C.E. His revelations are contained in the Islamic scripture; a tome called the Koran (also spelt Quran). Islam is considered a Semitic religion, like Judaism and Christianity. It is a monotheistic belief and Islam, in its purest, original form is considered an extension of Judaism, with Mohammed as the last prophet.

Two important Koranic tenets (that some may find interesting) are religious tolerance and the idea of women’s rights. The Koran states that other “people of the book” believe in an incomplete faith but should be respected. It means that Jews and Christians should be as respected in Islamic society as a fellow coreligionist. The Islamic faith allowed women better rights than Judaism or Christianity. It allowed women the right to own property or money and it guaranteed them a percentage of her husband’s property upon his death.

How did Islam spread? Mohammed convinced people in Medina, his hometown after being forced out of Mecca, to follow him in war and religion. His army was indeed powerful enough to conquer Mecca. From the 600’s to the 700’s C.E., there was much political turmoil as Mohammed and the succeeding caliphs, gathered forces in their sphere of influence. By 750 C.E. Muslim warriors have succeeded in taking over everything from Asia to France. After a brief peak of power, they are forced into Spain. Most Middle Eastern areas stay Arabic speaking and Islamic. Turkey remains Greek Orthodox and Greek speaking, the Europeans revert back to earlier religions and customs.

In 1071, the Turks (in Asia Minor) change from animists to Muslims. Barbarians convert the local populace through limited force and persuasion. The Barbarian/Turk mix then tries to conquer the Byzantine Empire and in 1453 they attempt and succeed in the conquest of Constantinople. Turkish speaking Muslims are now the chief people in Asia Minor. There are still limited pockets of Greeks speaking Christians and Kurds in Turkey left in Asia Minor at the end of the conquest.

What of the origins of the Ottoman Empire? In fact, there was little study of the origins of the Ottoman Empire until the twentieth century. Herbert A. Gibbons, a historian, was the first person to utilize research and thought to make a guess on the origins; his work was published in 1916. He claimed that the Ottoman Empire was really an offshoot of the Byzantine Empire with an Islamic veneer.

The next group of historians to offer a different view was William Langer and Robert Blake in 1932. They argued that it was not Byzantine at all but a more indigenous empire of the Middle East. Pre-Ottoman Islamic states banded together to form the backbone of the empire. Their work put Ottoman study on a more academic level.

In 1934, Fuat Koprulu disagreed in a Turkish historical journal. He claimed that the Ottoman state was purely Turkish. Turkish tribes moved from Asia to the Middle East and took over the areas. This was important as an argument for Turkish nationalism for the young nation. Also in 1934, Paul Wittek offered an explanation as to the start of the Empire. He claimed that the empire was a ghazi state. Ghazi means a holy, Islamic war. Ottoman persons in Anatolia fought for the faith and ended up in making an empire. This theory was particularly embraced by the West.

Colin Heywood--- a student of Paul Wittek--- penned in the 1980's that the intellectual climate while Wittek was growing up in Vienna influenced his writings. The Viennese appreciated the projection of the Ottoman State as warmongering. He suggested that Paul Wittek may have been in someway projecting a fallacy, despite his source from the 1400s, only a century after the founding of the Empire.

Heath Lowry looked into Wittek's sources and found more reasons to question Wittek's version of events in 2003. Lowry proves that Ahmedi, the major source of information for Wittek's hypothesis, was a retainer of the court. His writing then is not that credible as it may have been influenced by important government officials. Ahmedi's text, Lowry conjectures, was a story and not meant to be taken literally. Lowry further proves that at the time ghaza did not mean holy war but instead, raiding and pillaging, therefore just typical warfare not religious or politically motivated warfare.

Piecing together the origins and the known history, the most likely origin is that a group of warrior-barbarians in Anatolia (present day Turkey) form a group to try and take over the civilization. They begin attacking the Byzantine Empire in an attempt to pillage the cities. Barbarians, at all points in time, attack civilization to attempt to pillage the civilization’s belongings. Due to the attacks and the breakdown of the Byzantine Empire, there is a large amount of political instability in the relatively settled regions of Turkey. The once Greek and Christian settlements are converted to Turkish Muslims due to Turkish nomadic invaders that settle in the country. The Byzantine Empire manages to hold on to Constantinople and the Seljuk state begins to rise to power in the provinces.

The leaders of the Turkish nomads begin to form “tent communities” which house thousands of people. The communities war with each other often, as political instability strikes hold of the region. Osman, the leader of the Ottoman family, rises to the greatest power and wealth. His reign, as well as his territorial bounds gets notice from Bulgarian, Italian, and Byzantine chroniclers.

Osman, it should be noted was Christian, meaning that the Ottoman Empire was by no means religiously founded. Christians frequently held positions of power in the beginning of Ottoman history. Nonetheless, it started to take on the role as an Islamic power soon after its rule began.

What is the early history of the Empire? In 1389, the battle of Kosovo destroyed the Serbian State. (It is interesting to note that in 1989 Milosevic, a historian, stands on the battlefield of Kosovo and creates a Serbian identity, saying that the Serbs were the victims of a brutal attack.) The 1396 battle of Nicopolis, between the Ottomans and elements from France, Austria and Hungary ended with the Ottomans on top. The battle of Varna at the end of the 14th/early 15th century ended the Bulgarian state. With the 1453 conquering of Constantinople over the Byzantines, the Ottoman Empire becomes a major force to be reckoned with. By 1500, the Ottomans had taken control of all of Turkey and much of the land from Europe to North Africa to Asia.

Who runs the Empire? The Sultan of the Empire is the most important with the Grand Vizier being second in command. At times, the Grand Vizier becomes as or more important than the Sultan. One coup d’etat happens in 1453 after the conquest of Constantinople. Due to the increased popularity the Sultan has after the conquest, he feels safe in ordering his Grand Vizier killed.

Sultans were chosen from the sons of the previous Sultan. In the beginning, all the sons were given governing experience and any of them could be chosen to lead. Later in Ottoman history, the eldest son would become the next ruler. There were only two failed attempts to overthrow the ruling family, which suggests an extremely large amount of political stability. How do you make a living in society? Successful wars allowed pillage and new Timars (explained later) to be made. Also the transit trade (being the land bridge between Europe and the rest of Asia) and international trade made a large part of the economy of the Ottoman Empire. Domestic commerce, including the caravan system, was another common way for people to make a living in society. There were a few other ways to make a living including agriculture and fishing.

How do you pay for the soldiers? Pillage was a common answer in the Ottoman (and European) system. A small share (20%) of the plunder went to the Sultan. The Ottomans were particular in those cities that they would plunder. If the city surrendered, the Ottomans had to leave it alone. If they were met with resistance, then they received the affirmation to pillage the village.

The Ottomans started the Timar system which broke up conquered areas into taxable units. These units were made specifically so that each Timar would be able to sustain a man and his horse. These Timars were given to members of the Sipahi Calvary, those servicemen of Muslim heritage. The taxes from the Timar would go directly into the Timar-holders pocket in exchange for loyalty and willingness to go to war when called upon. This is not the same as the feudal system in Europe. Only the taxes from the land not the land itself was given to the Timar-holder. This system was popular from the 1400’s until the late 1500’s, when it starts to be replaced. (The system does continue with decreased popularity until the early seventeenth century.)

As the Timar System begins to fall away, the idea of Tax Farms become more important. The Tax Farm system broke up land in much the same way as the Timar system and then the right to tax would be auctioned off. In other words, the government thought that it could get a certain amount of tax for this land. People would bid for the right to collect the tax and whatever amount of tax they collected, they could keep. The amount of the tax was set by government but may have been cheated slightly by the tax collectors. The government then paid the soldiers from this income. It is interesting to note that money does not flow as cash in this society, so it is not cash that is being paid to the soldiers.

What of law? There was an interest in the status quo of the empire. The primary law system was the Islamic courts but appointed Jews and Christians were allowed to have their own courts which ruled over their religious areas. Non-conflicting systems were by and large left alone. There were two main systems of law, the Sharia Law and the Kanun Law. There was Sharia Law which was evolved out of the Koran and from the word of Mohammed. There was also Kanun Law which was the secular law of the Sultan. Both were taught at law schools, which existed in Bursa and Istanbul. The court was run by sultan-appointed kadi (read judges) and often included punishments including but not limited to fines, lashings, and capital punishment. Often Jews and Christians went to Islamic courts to get a more forceful ruling on an issue. Women almost always went to Islamic courts, as they tended to side more often with and gave fairer payments to women. In truth, the political judicial system was run for the betterment of the rulers. The Kanun overruled the Sharia Law, which show a level of respect for the Sultan over religion.

What of the non-Muslim members of society? There are still significant pockets of Christianity in the empire. While the empire was not founded on religion, it has become increasingly important to be Muslim in the society. Even though people are free to practice any religion, the amount of taxes needed to be paid by the Muslims are dramatically less than that of other religions. Therefore a lot of Christians "convert" themselves to Islam on paper, but continue practicing Christianity. After all it is very hard for the government to find out what religion people really practice. However, in the course of time the children of these families slowly leave their religion and become real Muslims. Employ of Christians as Christians becomes decreasingly acceptable. To tap into the usefulness of the Christian members of society, the Ottomans create the Devshirme system.

The Devshirme system collected boys from the Christian villages to be slaves in the army or the government. (This is not as evil as it sounds; in fact, there are records of mothers pleading for their boys to be taken into the system as it gave them a chance for social mobility.) The boys were sent to live with Turkish Muslims. Upon their conversion to Islam, they were sent to the army to be janissaries (soldiers) or sent to the Palace School to learn about government. These Devshirme boys were often promoted to high positions of power, generals in the army and grand viziers in the government.

The Janissaries do sometimes revolt after the year 1300. They usually demand more money (and they usually get it). Many Devshirme boys remained in contact with their hometowns. The boys, once in positions of power, had bridges, churches, schools, and hospitals built. This Devshirme system, despite some of its flaws, was an excellent brainchild of the Ottoman Empire. It allowed them to tap into the non-Muslim talent pool which would have been against policy if they had remained Christian. It also gave them a very well trained force running the state.

The Devshirme boys’ sons get help from their fathers navigating through the ranks. Due to this upsurge of interest in government and military by the sons of the Devshirme, there is no need to continue the system. Consequently, the Devshirme starts to break down in the late 1500’s.

What of the Europeans? The Europeans saw the Ottoman Empire as a punishment from God. Ottomans were seen as the anti-Christ. The Lutherans saw the Ottomans as proof that the papacy was corrupt and that the Ottomans were punishment for this abomination to Christianity. The Roman Catholics saw the Ottomans as punishment for allowing the Lutheran revolution. The Ottomans seemed an unstoppable force until the Ottomans attack Hapsburg Vienna in 1529. The Ottomans are defeated and begin a slow transition of power with limited territorial expansion and some contraction.