Comparative Essay: Ming Dynasty vs. Ottoman Empire

📌Category: History, History of China, Ottoman Empire
📌Words: 670
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 03 April 2022

The most significant similarity between the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empire in terms of how they created and maintained internal power was their roles in their empires. In source 12, “Diagram Social Class Hierarchy: Ming Dynasty” by Melissa Schultzel Jamieson she states, “The Shi: In China during the Ming Dynasty due to the influence of Neo-Confucianism, And the use of highly competitive silver service exams the status the Shi, while elite, was not only on birth.” This shows that the way the Ming Dynasty was run was by ranking of power.  In source 2, Memoirs of a Janissary it states, “… and whatever boys there are He takes them into the janissaries and gives five gold pieces for each one and sends them across the sea. There are about 2000 of these boys. He takes from the Christians in every village in his land who has boys, having established what is the most every village can give so that the quota will always be full.” This shows that the Christian boys that were taken added to the Ottomans internal power, it gave them more men therefore more power. Both of these sources are showing that the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empire are hierarchies. It says that the sultan and emperor both make the decisions which helps them maintain political power. Though there are differences between parts of the way their empires are ran, the overall way is very similar. That is the most significant similarity between the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empire in terms of how they created and maintained internal power. 

The most significant similarity between the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empire in terms of how they created and maintained external power was their conquering and establishing land to gain power. As well as using their military forces to do so. In source 4, “China and Java (Southeast Asia)” by Unknown, “ The fleet of the Ming emperor of China, commanded by Admiral Zheng He, dominated the seas and shores of Southeast Asia. Hana fire Muslim Chinese communities were establish in the Malay Peninsula, in Java and the Philippines. A Chinese haji became a kind of consul-general of the Chinese government, having control of all Chinese Muslims communities in Java.” In ”The Ottoman and Ming Land Power” by John Ripton it states, “The Ottoman military had many smaller but well – trained branches. From Palace guards to frontier nomadic paramilitary forces, the Ottoman military was prepared to engage its enemies under many conditions. The Ottomans best known military corps was the janissaries. These elite infantry units served as the Ottoman bodyguards and palace troops.” Both of these sources show that both empires have militaries that add to their power. The military power that they have gives them more of an advantage to gain land and power from surrounding countries.  That is the most significant similarity between the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empire in terms of how they created and maintained external power.

The most significant similarity between the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empire in terms of how their power was challenged was they were both challenged by the neighboring areas around them, which caused the downfall of their empires. In “China: A History” by Harold Tanner it states, “ Clearly, the Ming imperial government could be in trade, repeatedly, and deploy its armies to defend against pirates, but trade and piracy continued nonetheless.” This shows that the Ming Dynasty did not have enough power to defeat the pirates that stole their goods. A lot of money was loss because their goods were stolen, which has a negative impact on the Ming Dynasty. In “Ali Pasha and the Battle of Lepanto (text)” by the Victoria and Albert Museum it states, “ in both battles Ottoman expansion was halted (stopped)— at Vienna, the Ottomans suffered a defeat in a battle on land, and at Lepanto, they lost at sea.” This shows that the battles with surrounding empires and countries caused the Ottoman Empire to stop the growth of their Empire. Both sources show that the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empires powers were challenged by their neighbors, their neighbors caused them to lose money and land which eventually led to the downfall of both empires. That is the most significant similarity between the Ming Dynasty and Ottoman Empire in terms of how their power was challenged.

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