The Mughal Empire under Emperor Akbar dealt with religious diversity by being very tolerant of practicers of Hinduism. He realized that it would be prudent to blend Islamic and Hindu cultures to make everyone feel comfortable. It also made sense because 80% of the Mughal population was Hindu.
Akbar, along with tolerating the diversity of religion in India, also made a culture accepting Persians and Turks. Persians and Turks made up a large number of the Safavid and Ottoman Empire's population, which were rival empires so this was significant.
Under Aurengzeb the Hindus were forced to adopt Islam and give up Hinduism. Aurengzeb was not tolerant of religious diversity. He stopped this religious diversity by banning the Hindu practice of Sati, banning drinking, gambling and other accepted practices like drug use and prostitution. In effect, he made the Mughal Empire less loose and fun.
The Ottoman Empire had a growing Arab population and tolerated Christianity. The Ottoman Empire was centered around Turkey so naturally most of the people were Turks. But as the empire expanded it accommodated a growing Arabic population and was tolerant of them.
This Empire was also tolerant of another diverse ethnic group in their empire, the Persians. The Ottomans grew to appreciate the vibrant culture and artwork the Persians created.
As the Ottoman Empire grew larger and larger and expanded west, it continued to pose an ever increasing threat to Christianity. The taking of Constantinople marked a turning point in the power shifting to the Islamic Turks from the Christian Europeans. One could argue the Ottomans weren't tolerant of religious diversity in their empire because they made two major attacks on Vienna, a major Christian, European city. Also, the Ottomans would take boys from their family and forcibly convert them to Islam.
For the most part though the Ottomans did not seek to eradicate religious diversity in their empire. Large numbers converted to Islam from Christianity in Anatolia, but in many areas the citizens were largely undisturbed and left to govern themselves in areas like states. Also, for many people the Ottomans treated the Christians more fairly and taxed them less than their previous rulers. Many upper class citizens also rose in the ranks of the Ottoman Empire, like landlords, merchants, government officials and clergymen without converting to Islam.
The Safavid Empire sought to destroy religious diversity within its empire. The fight over religious diversity was not between Christianity and Islam; it was between Sunni and Shia Islam. The Safavids strictly enforced Shia Islam, which contributed to the characteristics of Persian culture, and this divide of Shia and Sunni Islam exists to this day in the area.
The Safavids fought with their westerly neighbors, the Ottomans over this issue of religious diversity for around a century.
No comments:
Post a Comment