OverviewWhat were the advantages and disadvantages of a land empire compared to a sea empire? (The Earth and Her Peoples, 526) There are some notable advantages and disadvantages of classical imperial rule. Many times, the disadvantages of such a rule are the same as its advantages. The most obvious of the advantages comes from the conquest itself: the acquisition of land and resources. Many times dominion can be difficult to extend over territory, as the population of the state increases, so must the complexity of its governance. Maritime empires, such as Great Britain (UK) and the United Netherlands, procured their wealth through foreign trade and its political strength. Controlling the seas required a good deal of ever-evolving technology, which the early modern empires of the east largely ignored. Three of these notable empires were the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal. The Ottoman Empire originally developed through control of trade routes and successful military reward systems. The Safavids came from the religious and political aspirations of Ismail I, hereditary leader of a military religious brotherhood, Safaviya. The Mughal Empire was created and ruled by the descendants of Timur, a 14th-century Asian conqueror. It is important to note the commonalities between these three empires. All three were of Turkish origin and practiced some form of Islam. After the initial conquests, they consisted of mixed cultures, used land as military payment, and exercised religious beliefs in their rule over the conquered lands. The power of the Ottoman Empire was visible in its military might and strategic invasions. From a series of decisive battles (conquest of Constantinople, Battle of Chaldiran, etc.) in the late 14th and early 15th centuries,...... middle of paper...... other Ottoman reformers. What do you think has made it so difficult to achieve meaningful reform? (The Human Record, 218) It is difficult to say based on this document, but I believe that the decrease in the sultan's power and the reorganization of the state hierarchy were the major obstacles to reform. I think what made it so difficult to implement the suggested reforms was corruption throughout the state hierarchy. Truly effective reforms must be implemented by an authority and accepted by the general population. Although there were many changes that occurred over the next century, from what I can tell, they were not due to the reforms of people like Mehmed Pasha, but rather the natural evolution of the state. Works CitedBeck et al. “World History: Patterns of Interaction.” Chapter 18, Section 3; audio supplement. McDougal Littell. 2005.