Empires Age Of Exploration Sparknotes

When discussing the age of exploration, imperialism and expansions the Ottomans are not often mentioned as members at the forefront of the race. In fact, very rarely are any Muslim countries associated with the idea of explorers of “new worlds”. In the piece by Giancarlo Casale titled the Ottomans Age of Exploration he discusses the role this great power played in the era of exploration and their struggle, primarily with the Portuguese, in the Indian Ocean. His work makes an attempt to argue the idea that maritime explorations were solely performed by the European nations or that this new era halted the growth of Muslim countries. In fact he offers numerous accounts and examples of the Ottomans readily taking part in expeditionary acts. Casale emphasizes that the beginning of the Ottoman’s expansion era can be attributed to Sultan Selim and his initial invasion of the Mamluk Empires holding of Egypt, although it is unknown as to why this was done it would eventually double the empire making the Ottomans the most powerful Islamic state in the world.
The reasons given behind the increasing desire to expand are similar to those of many European countries at the time: the realization of the vast wealth in different lands, increasing desire to grow ones’ own economy and the desire for power attained through size of ones’ empire. However, the three previous listed reasons were still second to the ottomans fear of the Portuguese intrusion of the Indian trade routes initiated by the conquests of Vasco de