Overview of Chapter 27:
The three empires Ottoman, Sufavid, and Mughals, known as the Gunpowder Empires, were all Islamic Empires that were established around the 16th Century. They experienced great advancement until they were brought down by economic difficulties. Janissaries were employed by the Ottomans as a military of slave troops. They were very successful until succession became an issue and they were all killed. There was much freedom of religion, until things got out of hand and was strictly allowed for the certain religions which was the Twelver Shiism. Imperial Islamic society was tightly controlled by the rulers and very competitive for power. The influence of steppe diplomacy had a hand in the power struggle and the military effort of these empires, as well as the control exercised by the emperors. Types of challenges to the Islamic Society lead to the decline of each of the empires. Each empire extensively depended on gunpowder for newly developed firearms and cannons.