Final answer:
The four groups that governed the Ottoman Empire were the Janissaries, Viziers, Pashas, and Ulemas, each with specific roles from military to legal and administrative duties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four major groups that governed the Ottoman Empire were: Janissaries, Viziers, Pashas, Ulemas.
- Janissaries were elite infantry corps directly serving under the sultan.
- Viziers were high officials who could perform governmental tasks similar to a modern prime minister.
- Pashas were provincial governors and played an important role in the administration of the empire's vast territories.
- Ulemas were scholars and legal experts knowledgeable in Islamic law and theology, playing a crucial role in the education system and legal matters of the empire.