What did the Janissaries represent for the Ottomans?

Highly respected for their military prowess in the 15th and 16th centuries, the Janissaries became a powerful political force within the Ottoman state. During peacetime they were used to garrison frontier towns and police the capital, Istanbul. They constituted the first modern standing army in Europe.

How did the Ottoman Empire recruit Janissaries?

Janissary recruits were chosen from groups of boys who were taken into Ottoman service in periodic levies on Christian peasant families, predominantly those in the Balkans.

What ethnic group founded the Ottoman Empire?

Turkish
Osman I, a leader of the Turkish tribes in Anatolia, founded the Ottoman Empire around 1299. The term “Ottoman” is derived from Osman’s name, which was “Uthman” in Arabic. The Ottoman Turks set up a formal government and expanded their territory under the leadership of Osman I, Orhan, Murad I and Bayezid I.

Why were the Janissaries formed?

The Ottomans instituted a tax of one-fifth on all slaves taken in war, and it was from this pool of manpower that the sultans first constructed the Janissary corps as a personal army loyal only to the sultan.

What was distinctive about the Janissaries training?

Janissaries trained under strict discipline with hard labour and in practically monastic conditions in acemi oğlan (“rookie” or “cadet”) schools, where they were expected to remain celibate. Unlike other Muslims, they were expressly forbidden to wear beards, only a moustache.

What comprises the Ottoman Empire?

The Ottoman Empire is one of the largest empires in history. In existence for 600 years, at its peak it included what is now Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories, Macedonia, Romania, Syria, parts of Arabia and the north coast of Africa.

What made the Janissaries?

During Turkish raids, small boys were especially coveted plunder. Turkish warriors kidnapped young Christian boys and gave them as a gift to the sultan. Sultan brainwashed them and converted them into Islam. These boys became Janissaries.

Who were the Janissaries and what role did they play quizlet?

Terms in this set (15) What was the role of the Janissaries in the rise of the Ottoman Empire? The Janissaries were soldiers in the elite guard of the Ottoman Turks and helped develop a strong military. They trained as foot soldiers and served the sultan or Ottoman leaders.

How did the Ottomans treat the different ethnic and religious groups in their empire?

The Ottomans were forced to guarantee vague “rights” to religious minorities, which in fact limited their freedoms. Instead of being allowed to rule themselves according to their own rules, all religious groups were forced to follow the same set of secular laws.