Ottomans Flashcards
What caused its empire to weaken?
Military difficulties + challenges to its rule
Military difficulties
Defeated by Europeans (don’t have advanced strategy + tactics + weaponry + training); No discipline in Janissary corps
Janissaries
Elite military soldiers
What effects did the Janissaries had on the Ottoman Empire?
They had become a powerful political force -> Degrading military strength (no military training + advancements in weapon technology)
Political difficulties
Caused by loss of military power; Government lost power to its own officials for protection
Ottoman governers
Formed private armies to support the Sultan in exchange for recognition of autonomy; Began keeping taxes for themselves→less money for central government
Autonomy
Right of self-government
Why did Ottomans lose so much territories?
Weak military + Nationalism (→independence of Greece + Serbia)
Cause of the loss of Egypt
Napoleon invaded - failed → Internal power struggle between local elites
Muhammad Ali
Ruler of Egypt - won power struggle in Egypt; General - European army; Subordinate to sultan but basically independent; Invaded Ottoman but British intervened to stop Ottoman collapse
Economic difficulties
Trade declined due to Europeans trading directly with India + China; European industrialization → European goods (cheap + high quality) in Ottoman markets → high demand →hurt Ottoman artisans + craftsman
Effect of European trade
Ottoman economic system: Fiscal insolvency + financial dependency → Rely on foreign loans for money - Unable to pay interest on loans → Accept administration of debt by Europeans
Capitulations
Agreements that European visitors are exempt for Ottoman law - let Europeans exercise jurisdiction on own citizens own laws
How did capitulation worse Ottoman economy?
European businessmen make tax-exempt banks + commercial enterprises; Foreign companies levy duties (impose taxes) on goods sold in Ottoman Empire
Result of European trade
Ottomans were unable to maintain bureaucracy - Can’t pay workers → reduced morale; Recruitment difficulties; Increased corruption; Increased taxes to offset revenue losses→exploitation of peasantry→declined agricultural production
Causes of Reform in Ottoman Empire
Military + Economic + Political
Beginning reform efforts
Limit taxation + increase agricultural production + end official corruption
Sultan Selim III
Tried to reform army with European model; New military challenged role of Janissaries
How did the Janissaries react to Selim’s new military system?
Revolts - Kill all European troops + lock up Selim; Stopped his successor when he tried to reform + killed all male members of dynasty except Mahmud II
Mahmud II
Reforms are restoration of traditional Ottoman military / old tradition; Implemented European-style army
Why didn’t the Janissaries win against Mahmud?
Riots were massacred by loyal troops to Mahmud
Result of Mahmud II’s reforms
Remodeled Ottoman institutions based on Western style
Military Reform of Mahmud II
Ottoman soldiers dressed in European style uniforms + weapons + tactics + education
Social Reform of Mahmud II
Government created secondary education for boys (primary education -> scientific + technical + military academies)
Political Reform of Mahmud II
Transferred power from traditional elites to himself + cabinet by: taxed rural landlords + abolished military land grants + undermined ulama
Ulama
Islamic leadership
How did Mahmud II gain legitimacy / more power?
Made European-style ministries; Built new roads + telegraph lines + postal service
Tanzimat Era
Era of rapid reform
Inspirations of Tanzimat Reformers
Enlightenment ideas (equality) + European constitutions
Goal of Tanzimat reformers
Make Ottoman law acceptable for Europeans to stop capitulations + recover Ottoman sovereignty
Reforms of Tanzimat Era
Modeled legal system after French; Protected citizen rights (public trials, privacy, equality before law for both Muslims + non-Muslims); Education reforms
Who were against the Tanzimat reformers?
Religious conservatives + minority groups + Young Ottomans + Ottoman bureaucracy
Why were religious conservatives against Tanzimat reformers?
They thought reforms were threat to Islamic foundation; Muslims view equality for Jews + Christians against principles of Islamic law
Why were some minority groups against Tanzimat reformers?
Thought reforms would decrease their importance as intermediaries w Ottoman state
Why were Young Ottomans against Tanzimat reformers?
Wanted Tanzimat to go further; Mixed in political + religious views; Wanted individual freedom + local autonomy + political decentralization + constitutional government + equality for all no matter the culture / religion
Why were Ottoman bureaucracy against Tanzimat reformers?
They wanted to put checks on sultan’s power through constitution
Abdül Hamid II
Sultan who signed a constitution that limited his authority + created a representative government; Suspended the constitution, dissolved parliament, + exiled/executed liberals; Ruled as autocrat for 30 years to protect empire from Europe; Continued Tanzimat reforms: police, education, economy, railroads.
What did Ottoman bureaucrats and military officers learn under Hamid II?
Modern science, technology, and European political, social, and cultural traditions.
Result of Hamid II’s reforms
Exiled believe problem with Ottoman empire was unlimited power of sultan
Young Turks
Most active dissident organization - Founded by exiled Ottomans; Promoted reform using newspapers
Young Turks Beliefs
Universal suffrage; equality before law, secularism, women’s rights; freedom of religion; free public education; Nationalism of Turkish people; Ottoman empire become Turkey
What was the Young Turks’ goal regarding the Ottoman Empire?
Wanted to maintain Turkish hegemony in the empire
What language did the Young Turks make the official language of the empire?
Turkish - caused tension bc many people in the empire spoke Arabic or Slavic
How did the Ottoman Empire survive into the 20th century?
European powers were unsure how to divide the empire
Extraterritoriality
The right or privilege of a state to exercise authority in certain circumstances beyond the limits of its territory
