Timars of the Ottoman Empire for AP World History

Jan 16

2 min read

The timars of the Ottoman Empire are an illustrative example of changing social hierarchies between 1450 and 1750 for Unit 4 in AP World History. This is an example you could reference on your AP World History test.

a farm next to an Ottoman wall — 1562063395/Shutterstock

The Ottoman timar system played a crucial role in the military and administrative organization of the Ottoman Empire during the 14th to 17th centuries. Timars were land grants awarded to military officers in exchange for their service, forming an integral part of the Ottoman state’s governance and military structure.

The timar system emerged during the early years of the Ottoman Empire as a means of compensating military officers for their service. Initially, these grants were temporary and tied to the individual’s military obligations. Over time, as the empire expanded, the timar system evolved, and grants became increasingly hereditary. This shift had profound implications for the military and administrative organization of the empire.

Timar holders, known as timariots, were responsible for providing military service in times of need, particularly in the Ottoman cavalry, the sipahis. In return for their service, they received revenue from the land granted to them. This revenue was collected directly from the local peasant population, forming the economic basis for the timar system.

Under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, the Ottoman state undertook significant administrative reforms. Suleiman aimed to centralize power and streamline the governance of the vast empire. As part of these reforms, Suleiman sought to curtail the autonomy of the timariots and bring greater control over revenue collection. This marked a shift in the empire’s administrative structure, with an increasing focus on centralized governance.