Ottoman Empire Religions

The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest Empires which thrived. Everyone knows that when you think of Ottoman Empire religion the first thing which comes to your mind is Islam. Islam was the main religion of this Empire and the success of the Empire depended on this to quite an extent as well. The ideology of Islamism had united the entire Empire. Also there was even an Islamic warrior code which dealt with the increase of the Muslim territory through jihad.

The organisational as well as administrative structures were even united by the Islamic religion. Apart from Muslim the Ottoman Empire religions were many. The communities which were non Muslim in the Empire had been organised in accordance with the millet system which had given these minority religions a very limited amount of power which was used in order to regulate their very own affairs. But these affairs also had to be under the supremacy of the Ottoman Empire administration.

In 1454 the Orthodox Christian millet was established. This helped in bringing the Orthodox Christians under a single community where the leader was the Patriarch, one who had the authority given by the Sultan. Along with the Christian millets, the Jewish, Armenian and various others had followed as well.

Although other Ottoman Empire religions were not asked to convert into Islam but there were certain drawbacks as well. The non Muslim parts would have to hand over a few of the children especially the male ones to the government as a tax form. The Balkans had to give up 20 per cent of the male children to the state. These children were then converted into Islam and they had to serve as slaves. Sometimes the youngsters used to be trained for government service and the other would be trained for service in the military.

Ottoman Empire religions included the battles between religions as well. There was a battle between Muslims and Christians which took place and in the end the winner would convert the churches into mosques and mosques into churches, depending upon who won.

Under Mehmet various churches had been converted into mosques but then the faith could not itself be suppressed. Although Mehmet could not stand Christians he had tried to get the Jews to Istanbul. Since the Jews had been Persecuted by the Christian church this prospect seemed to be very good for them.