The challenges The new legal system had to take into account the complex structure of the Ottoman Empire. • Almost all of the empire, except parts of Africa, was mountainous. Communities were isolated from each other and had developed their own laws. • There were many different lifestyles in the empire. Some Ottomans lived in great cities while others were nomads or merchants who travelled long distances. • The empire was made up of people with many different faiths, including Christianity and Judaism. In some parts of the empire, Muslims were in the minority. The solutions When a new territory was captured, Ottoman officials tried to preserve as many of the local laws as possible, as long as these did not contradict the religious law or general legal principles of the empire. This strategy was incredibly progressive for a time when many other empires would simply enslave the people they conquered, forcing them to adopt new religions and customs. The system, known as millet , essentially provided the conquered community a degree of autonomy . This practice reduced opposition to Ottoman rule, ensured laws suited local conditions and also made collecting taxes easier. The timing of the first official millet remains debated by historians. Some historians believe that the practice was established during Suleiman’s reign; others claim it existed previously, while a third group argue that the millet system developed later in the Ottoman period. Even if it wasn’t an official millet , this strategy had a critical role in strengthening support for the Ottoman Empire.
SOURCE6 An Islamic painting from c. 1588 showing the army of Suleiman the Magnificent in front of Vienna
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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