JERRY BROTTON
The Ottoman Empire was a word Superpower for over 1,000 years, longer than any other in history, One of its great strengths was its pluralism and ability to not only absorb and assimilate people from other nations, cultures and religions, but also to utilize those people in key positions and contributions to their society. Christians and Jews rose to the highest positions under the Sultans. They became Governor’s of Provinces, manages of departments and even Grand Vizier to the Sultan himself. Jewish and Christian physicians, attorneys, traders were all valued in the Empire even though the had a second class status relative to Muslims. The opportunity was always there to convert to Islam and many did, but many did not and thrived, The Ottomans saw Christian Europe, not only in continuous religious conflict, but individual nations were never able to use the talents of the religious minority, the way that the Ottomans did, and later the United States did. Not only did the Ottomans allow immigrants from all over the world to become part of the Empire Government or Economy, but they actually send agents throughout the empire to find the best and the brightest of young men—regardless of religion or nationality—and bring them to the Sultan’s court for education, training and service. IT should be noted however, that the motivation was in no way moral or a desire for fairness. It was totally pragmatic. Exceptional manpower was not to be wasted.
After Henry VIII changed England to a Protestant nation and left the Roman Catholic Church, the Catholic countries of Europe, England’s traditional trading partners, were not as available as before. The English Economy was in great danger. Queen Elisabeth I however initiated policies to turn East for new markets and trading partners and found munitions a great export area. Since the Catholic Church was boycotting England, she seized their property and used much of it to capitalize and provide raw martial for her new industry.
After King Henry VIII left the Roman Catholic Church and adopted Protestantism, English Protestants were in great danger in Catholic Europe. Queen Elisabeth I, with its traditional trading partners in Catholic Europe too dangerous for English merchants, negotiated successfully with the Ottoman Empire Sultan Murad III, for mutual trading. An Englishman was much safer in the Islamic world than he was in Europe. Not only did England open up new markets but its merchants developed the skills of trading with the East which was one of the main factors allowing them to be so successful in establishing the British Empire which was always fundamentally a trading empire. Elizabeth’s successful foreign policy not only allowed prosperity despite the schism with Europe, but established the foundation for England to become the greatest world power.
I was born in Bradford and educated at state schools in Leeds before studying for a BA (Hons) in English at Sussex University, followed by an MA at Essex University in the Sociology of Literature. I lived in East Berlin before returning to study for a PhD in early modern mapping at Queen Mary. After a research fellowship at Leeds University and a lectureship at Royal Holloway, I returned to Queen Mary in 2003, and was appointed Professor of Renaissance Studies in 2007. My first book, Trading Territories: Mapping the Early Modern World (1997) began an interest in mapping and east-west cultural exchange. This was followed by collaborative work with Lisa Jardine that led to Global Interests: Renaissance Art between East and West (2000). I have since written The Renaissance Bazaar: From the Silk Road to Michelangelo (2002), The Sale of the Late King’s Goods (2006) shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize, The Renaissance: A Very Short Introduction (2006), Great Maps (2014) and the bestselling A History of the World in Twelve Maps (2012), translated into eleven languages which won book of the year in Austria and was shortlisted for the Hessel Tiltman Prize. My books have been translated into eighteen languages. I am a regular broadcaster, critic and feature writer, presenting BBC4’s three-part TV series, ‘Maps: Power, Plunder and Possession’ (2010), BBC NI’s ‘Mapping Ulster’ (2013) and BBC Radio 3’s ‘Courting the East’ (2007). I have also co-curated and edited the catalogue of ‘Penelope’s Labour: Weaving Words and Images’ (with Adam Lowe), an exhibition at the Venice Biennale of 2011. I am Associate Director of the Queen Mary/Warwick University project Global Shakespeare. I am an Associate of the People’s Palace Projects, where I work on a variety of projects in Brazil on subjects including Shakespeare and utopia. My next book is This Orient Isle: Elizabethan England and the Islamic World (Penguin, 2016).
