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  • Essay / Maritime Nations and Gunpowder Empires 1450s to 1800s

    The 1450s to 1800s were a period of great importance for maritime nations and gunpowder empires. Both were at one time successful world powers, achieving many personal improvements/benefits. The Spanish and the Ottomans, for example, built two thriving empires based on different principles and are an example of how empires develop successfully over time. As the Ottomans took over Europe, the Spanish conquered the New World, and each empire had different tactics that made their empire prosperous; for example, the Ottoman Empire promoted religious tolerance, while the Spanish Empire did not. However, some of their tactics were very similar, for example, both empires expanded their influence and power through the use of their own military. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayThe empire-building methods of the Spanish and Ottoman empires differed in that the Spanish captured land abroad in the New World while the Ottomans captured land in the Old World. With advances in maritime technology, Spain was able to travel to the New World and colonize there, instead of challenging the Ottoman Empire in Europe and the rest of the Old World. The theme of expansion and exploration is greatly illustrated by the two empires' control over different regions of the world. Another difference between the empire-building methods of the Spanish and the Ottomans was their views on the acceptance of religion. Unlike the Ottomans, the Spanish were not tolerant of different religions. The Spanish conquered the Americas with the intention of converting the natives to Christians, and if they refused they would be killed. Although the Ottomans promoted their religion, Islam, people of different religions were not persecuted. In fact, the Ottomans created the millets, which were small groups of people who shared the same religious beliefs. The theme of religious beliefs is greatly illustrated by the two empires, showing how empires can be strict or unlimited when it comes to religious freedom. One similarity between the empire-building methods of the Spanish and Ottoman empires was their use of the military in order to expand their influence and domination. The Ottomans used their janissaries and their army of trained foreigners, during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, to push the borders of the Ottoman Empire into Persia and Egypt. They continued to expand their borders by controlling trade routes in order to help their economy and also to spread Islam. Like the Ottomans, the Spanish used their army to enrich their trade and promote their Christian religion. Their navy, the Spanish Armada, was very competent. The Spanish sent conquistadors to colonize America on behalf of Spain. The theme of power is largely illustrated by both empires, showing that the stronger an empire's military, the more likely it is to influence others and expand its power. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a Custom EssaySpain and the Ottoman Empire had similar but different ideas when they built their empires. Different in that the Spanish Empire captured land in the New World while the Ottomans captured land in the Old World and how..