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Difficulty: EasyOttoman, Safavid, and Mughal Expansion

"The Sultan's empire expanded rapidly, driven by a formidable military machine that combined infantry forces armed with gunpowder weapons and elite corps recruited from Christian families in the Balkans. These developments allowed the empire to consolidate control over trade routes bridging Europe and Asia."

Which of the following was a primary factor that facilitated Ottoman territorial expansion in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries?

  1. The integration of gunpowder weapons and a centralized military organizationAnswer
  2. B
    The establishment of a hereditary system of chattel slavery that barred elite military recruitment
  3. C
    The relocation of the empire's main administrative center to Safavid-controlled Persia
  4. D
    The complete replacement of regional Islamic networks due to a period of intellectual and cultural decline

Answer

The integration of gunpowder weapons and a centralized military organization
The correct answer is correct because the passage describes the Ottoman military as a 'formidable military machine' that integrated infantry armed with gunpowder weapons and elite corps (the Janissaries recruited via devshirme). This combination of military technology and centralization was the primary driver of their imperial expansion.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus provided in the question.
The stimulus identifies the key drivers of Ottoman expansion: gunpowder weapons, an elite military corps (devshirme/Janissaries), and control over key trade routes.
Understanding the core components of the text is necessary to evaluate the options.
2
Evaluate the options against the stimulus and historical context.
The option emphasizing the integration of gunpowder and centralized military forces matches the stimulus's description of a 'formidable military machine' and gunpowder infantry.
This helps identify the option that accurately represents the historical factor described in the passage.

Key Concept

Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Expansion
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Topics

Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Expansion

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