Ottoman Empire

The Modern Era

(1750-1914)

The acorn says… Compare reaction to foreign interference in

the Ottoman Empire (and China, India, SE Asia, & Japan)

Muhammad Ali Suez Canal

Remember the Ottomans? Conquered Constantinople in 1453:

Istanbul “Golden Age” under Suleyman

Magnificent in mid 16th c. Janissaries Blend Byzantine, Arab, & Persian styles Dominate overland trade routes

Ottoman Empire at beginning of Modern Era

Ottoman Decline (18th & 19th c.): the Sick Man of Europe

Government corruption, ineptitude, series of assassinations

Competition from European products & usurpation of trade routes by Europeans led to economic decline

Intellectual stagnation

Challenges to the Ottoman Empire The West: Napoleon invaded Muslim heartland of

Egypt in 1798 & quickly conquered weak Ottoman Egyptian forces. He was only expelled because of British aid/alliance.

Decentralization: As the empire decayed, regional forces from within the Empire began to emerge. Inspired by Enlightenment ideas & nationalistic fervor,

Christian regions of the Balkans rebelled with European encouragement & achieved independence.

Muhammad Ali strengthens & separates Egypt

Greek War for Independence: 1821-1832

Crimean War: 1854-1856

Otto, FR, & Brit v. Russia Origins: Russian

expansionism & conflict over holy lands

Used railways & telegraphs and female nurses

Ended with agreement to respect Ottoman’s independence & territorial integrity --keep “The sick man of Europe” around

Muhammad Ali “Father of Modern Egypt” Ottoman sultan appointed him as governor (pasha) over Egypt

in 1805. Instituted lots of reforms:

Land reform Tax system Euro-style bureaucracy Agricultural improvements …led to LOTS of cotton production --Egypt

became one of world’s largest cotton producers Modern printing press & education systems Military reformed along Euro lines

Even tried to overthrow Ottomans …but prevented by French & British --why would the French & British care/interfere???

British take over Egypt When Muhammad Ali died in 1848, Egypt was most

powerful state in Mid East, but it quickly declined. Completion of Suez Canal in 1869 made Egypt of vital

strategic importance to the British as a link to their colonies in India & Africa.

Modernization (including the canal) was expensive & Egypt had a LOT of foreign debt.

After the US Civil War when world cotton market collapsed from overproduction, Egypt couldn’t pay its international debts ….

… So, Britain took control of state finances & the Suez Canal. After putting down a nationalist uprising in 1882, Britain made Egypt a protectorate.

The Suez Canal gives ‘the lion’s share’ to the British with the key to India

Ottoman Attempts at ReformOttomans realized they needed to make drastic reforms by mid 19th c.

Tanzimat (“reorganization”) Reforms: various attempts to modernize the Ottoman Empire, to secure its territorial integrity against nationalist movements and aggressive powers. The reforms encouraged Ottomanism among the diverse ethnic groups, attempting to stem the tide of nationalist movements within the Ottoman Empire. The reforms attempted to integrate non-Muslims and non-Turks more thoroughly into Ottoman society by enhancing their civil liberties and granting equality.

Sent military officers to Western Euro to learn military system, but also learned languages & exposure to culture & ideas about gov’t, democracy, religion, & social order.

Implemented agricultural reforms & modernized medicine …which led to population increase, resulting in little real improvement in standard of living

Varied Reaction to European Domination Westernization: copy the social, political,

economic, & military structure of West. Usually these reforms affected only educated elites & political change was superficial.

Nationalism: which kind do you think?? Resistance: some hated Euro political & economic

domination that often accompanied reform; lots of anti-Western riots & wars with European countries

Islamic Fundamentalism: especially in Sudan as led by Mahdi in 1881.

Demise of the Ottoman Empire By the end of the 19th c, only the Ottomans remained

as an important independent Muslim state …but it was really weak.

Reforms were too little, too late In early 20th c, group of liberals known as Young

Turks deposed autocratic ruler & instituted more reforms. But they ended up supporting Germany & Austria-Hungary in WWI, & after the war the empire was broken up & occupied by foreign powers

From its ruins, a new Islamic state, the Republic of Turkey rose.

The Ottoman Empire in 1914