Ming and Ottoman Empires
World power can be seen today in two very different but extremely vast empires. They are the Ming Empire and the Ottoman Empire. To contrast these empires in order to predict their futures, it is necessary that I observe and analyze key factors such as leadership, military strengths and weaknesses, and morals among the people. The two empires have different types of leadership, and from this it is possible to find the core of any disadvantage. From the leadership, it is possible to continue into the military and values that these empires embody. The Ming Empire is led by brilliant philosophical scholars, "The man who is promoted to the higher degrees in this field prides himself on the fact that he has in truth attained to the pinnacle of Chinese happiness" (Andrea/Overfield 116). The Ottoman Empire has dedicated and knowledgeable leaders as well, but they are of a more warlike and brutish character. "These leaders rise in service by merit alone" (Andrea/Overfield p.88). Indulging in the writings of Matteo Ricci, who observed first hand the workings of the Ming government, and the writings of Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, who observed the government under Sule
Mustafa had proved himself a great soldier and a favorite of the Ottoman people to take over the throne. "In China it is obvious that no one will labor to obtain proficiency in mathematics or in medicine who has any hope of becoming prominent in the field of philosophy" (Andrea/Overfield 116). The Philosophers, more formally known as the Order of the Learned, administers over the entire Kingdom (Andrea/Overfield 118). From the government to the military, they receive great respect. The successor will certainly kill all the other sons in order to secure his rule. It is evident in his writings that he felt the Ming people had such a strict and rigorous testing to become a philosopher, only the best are allowed to counsel. Towards the end of Suleiman I's reign as Sultan among the Turks, jealousy and betrayal brought great criticism against the Sultan. It is true that no empire is without flaw, and the Ottoman is no exception. De Busbecq also wrote extensively about the military strengths of the Ottoman. However less moral and warlike, the Ottoman Empire's openness to new ideas and inventions could be the difference in their future, come the next century. Confucius is "great and learned man. "Those who aspire to be cultured frown upon war and would prefer the lowest rank in the philosophical order to the highest in the military" (Andrea/Bulliet 118).
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