Early Days of the Ottoman Empire Quiz

Answer:

The Ottoman Empire began in northwestern Anatolia, which was also called Asia Minor in ancient times. Anatolia is also a peninsula, surrounded by the Black, Aegean, and Mediterranean Seas. The name was derived from the Greek, "Anatolḗ", which means from the East. Since 1922 the area has been known as Turkey.

It took some time before the Ottomans were able to control all of the Anatolian Peninsula. Their history began in the northwest area of the region with the formation of Beyliks, or small principalities, governed by a Bey or chieftain. When the Sultanate of Rum (1071-1308), established by the Seljuk Turks in Anatolia, began to decline, independent Beyliks were formed. While maintaining their independence, the Beyliks would often align with stronger Beys in order to avoid conflict.

One of the Beyliks was located in a region called Bithynia, which bordered on the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosporus Strait. Originally settled by many groups of ancient people, the area was colonized by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC. It was later willed to the Romans, and eventually became part of the Byzantine Empire. Bithynia was conquered by the Ottoman Turks during a series of conflicts between 1302-1333. Its location gave them a strategic position, one that is still strategic today, and allowed for the Ottomans to become a dominant power.

Osman I emerged c. 1281 as the Bey of Bithynia when his father, Ertuğrul, died. Sometime around 1299 he declared independence from the Sultanate of Rum and began expanding his territory. Historians use this date to mark the beginning of the Ottoman Empire. There is no contemporary information,however, concerning Osman's rise to power; the earliest information about Osman is found books published in the 1400s.

A careful study of Osman I reveals that his name is sometimes written as Osman Ghazi, which translates as Osman the Warrior or Osman the Holy Fighter. Ghazi is an Arabic word that refers to a warrior who fights for his faith or carries out military raids. The predecessors of the Ottoman Turks began converting to Islam during the 10th century, and the spread of the religion was seen as being one of the objectives in their expansion, along with the acquisition of plunder and seizing of territory. Many historians believe that Osman's success was partly due to the Turkish Ghazis who provided the manpower needed to carry out raids.

The first event in Osman's life that can be dated with certainty is the Battle of Bapheus, which was fought on July 27, 1302, between the Ottoman Turks and Byzantine Empire. It was a huge victory and important turning point for the Ottomans, as it showed that the Byzantine Empire was unable to protect the outer reaches of its territory. The victory helped to attract more followers to Osman's army and solidified his control of the countryside.

Osman I died in 1324 and was succeeded by his son, Orhan, who ruled until c. 1360. His forces were able to focus their attention on the cities of Nicaea and Nicomedia, which were taken in 1331 and 1337 respectively. Orhan reorganized the army, establishing a permanent military that was paid. He minted the first Ottoman silver coins, codified laws, established a fair system of justice, and initiated construction projects. Some sources say that Orhan should be credited as the real founder of the Ottoman Empire because of the transformation that took place under his rule.

Orhan captured the city of Bursa from the Byzantine Empire in 1326, and designated it as the first Ottoman capital. The city experienced great growth under Ottoman control, and developed into an important center for trade as it was located on the Silk Road. It continued to be used by the next four Ottoman rulers as their capital, and most of the early rulers were buried there. When the capital moved to Edirne, Bursa remained an important cultural and trading center.

When Orhan died, his son, Murad I, took over the throne and ruled from 1362-1389. His army successfully enlarged the Ottoman Empire into Europe, and Murad divided it into two provinces - Anatolia, which included the Asian territories, and Rumelia, which included those in Europe. In order to help keep control of his empire, Murad used the local rulers as vassals who collected tribute and gave military assistance.

Murad, who may have been the first Ottoman leader to use the title Sultan, also further developed a program which some sources say may have been initiated by his father. He established Janissary Corps of elite soldiers to serve as his professional army and body guards. The recruitment of forces was accomplished by the stealing of young boys away from Christian communities, converting them to Islam, and training them in warfare. Although they were viewed as being slaves, Janissaries were paid a salary. They could not marry until they were forty years old, and their complete loyalty to the Sultan was expected. The Janissary Corps continued to serve the Ottoman Sultan until the group was abolished in 1826.

By the time Murad I died in 1389, the Ottoman Empire was well on its way to being a power with which to be reckoned. At its peak, the Empire covered 2 million square miles (5.2 million square kilometers) and spanned three continents.

You may have noticed that the incorrect answers all relate to ancient Egypt, but do correspond in a way to the Ottoman choices listed, including a battle, king, early capital, administrative districts, and early kingdoms.