The Tanzimat: Reform in the Ottoman Empire
During its prime, the Ottoman Empire was one of the largest and most powerful empires in the entire world. Unfortunately for the Ottomans, various problems arose, and eventually the empire started to decline. This resulted in a period of reform, known as the Tanzimat. Between 1839 and 1876 numerous changes were made to the empire, but whether they were truly effective is still debated to this day.
Sultan Mahmud II, and various other Europeanized Ottoman bureaucrats initiated what is known today as the largest reform movement in the history of the Ottoman Empire. The Tanzimat changed life in the Ottoman Empire drastically, and completely revolutionized how the Ottomans lived. Previously, the empire was home to various different, nationalities, races, religions and cultures. During the Tanzimat, a major effort was made to unite these people, which is often referred to as the policy of Ottomanism. This resulted in the creation of a national anthem, and the establishment of a national flag. In the past, Islamic law was predominant, but was replaced by secular law, so no individual groups were left out. The Tanzimat’s main focus was to replace it’s old, outdated ways, with more of a westernized approach. The reforms varied greatly, but for the most part, they were all made to help modernize the empire.
During the Tanzimat, two royal decrees were issued that displayed exactly what the reform movement was all about. It promised certain administrative reforms, the abolition of tax farming, the standardization of military conscription, and the elimination of corruption. 2 These decrees created equality among all religions, decentralized the government, and helped to make the millets more a...
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...and military restrictions were implemented. Armenia, and various other independent states were established as a result of the treaty. The empire lost about 80 percent of its original landmass, and eventually declined and fell entirely.
At one time, the reforms made by the Young Turks worked well, but only for a short time. Overthrowing the tyranny of Hamid should have been enough to help establish a new government, but the triumvirate also became quite oppressive during their reign. Turkism established a new form of nationalism that left out various nationalities, races, and cultures, and this led to the decline of the empire. Following World War I, the empire was faced with so many conflicts, they were unable to remain strong. Even though the reformers set out to strengthen the empire, it is quite possible they are the reason for the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
While taking the class of Early Modern European History there was two states that really stuck out and peaked my interest the most. They were the Ottoman Empire and Early Modern Europe. If you compare and contrast both the Ottoman Empire and Early Modern Europe during the 16th Century through the 18th Century, you will see that there are a number of similarities as well as differences when you look at the expansion of the states. You will also see many of these contrasts as well when you look in terms of each states military and commerce. Although the Ottoman Empire existed before the 16th century and continued to exist past the 18th century and in great decline until the early 20th century, when looking at the state as a whole the time period of 1500’s through the 1700’s is a period of growth and strength. It is perhaps even known as a golden era for the state, when taking in to comparison the Early Modern Europeans where the same time period marks a change in how society thought and how people were treated.
In the course of approximately four hundred years, Western European colonists and prominent historical figures were particularly known for exploiting and devastating distant cultures and civilizations around the world. This included groups ranging from the Aboriginals and the Aztecs in the remote “New World”, to groups in East Asia such as the Chinese and the Mughals. However, historians today debate whether or not these prevailing and prospering Western European nations were as successful at influencing the cultures of nearer empires such as the Ottoman Empire. It is questionable as to whether or not the Ottoman Empire should be compared to other cultures devastated through their interactions with the West, largely due to the Ottomans’ vast success in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries and eventual internal problems. However, the Ottoman Empire’s inability to remain as successful as its adjacent Western neighbours indicates that they too, were a victim of Western dominance. As the Ottomans began its descent, much of the West continued its prevalence. Therefore, it is fair to say that the Ottoman Empire’s considerable interaction with the West led to the demise and alteration of its culture. The Western powers’ economic supremacy, exploitation of the Ottomans’ internal failures and influence on its religious state each significantly contributed.
17Kili, Dr. Suna. ?Islam and Secularism in Contemporary Turkey.? Voice of Ataturk: Ataturk Society of America. Web. Dec. 10 2013.
2. The economic crisis essentially came before and caused the military crisis, so I’ll talk about that first. The economic crisis was in part caused by the increasing cost of the military and government due to the increasing number of Janissaries. It was also caused by the colonialist and imperialist policies of the European nation states, and the associated economic globalization, which resulted in a few things. First, the silver trade from the New World caused massive inflation in the Middle East. Many of the members of the Ottoman society, including scholars and Calvary, had fixed income that weren’t adjusted for inflation, and therefore suffered financially. Further, the changes in the economy...
The emergence of gunpowder and the ability to create increasingly more accurate firearms in the Middle East and Europe in the fifteenth century sparked the growth of two highly militant empires. The Habsburgs, hailing mostly from the Iberian Peninsula, fully began to rise when Charles V inherited Spain, American territories, western Mediterranean territories, and Austria from his parents. The Ottoman Empire had its humble beginnings as a nomadic group; however, it later became a force to be reckoned with upon the capture of Constantinople (now Istanbul). Since these two emerging empires were in close proximity, military dominance was a necessity. The Ottomans were rightfully feared for their military due to their strict training regulations
The Ottoman Empire was an empire known for many developments. Founded in July of 1299, the empire lasted until 1923, over six hundred years (“Ottoman Empire”). Throughout these six hundred years of history, came the developments of: one of the first known examples of a watch, used to measure time in minutes, created by Meshur Sheyh Ded in 1702; the telegraph which was personally tested by Sultan Abdulmecid in 1847; and the production of pottery, silk and rugs, jewelry, arms and armor, and the well-known mosque made of the greatest contribution from the Ottoman Empire to the world of art (“Ottoman Empire”). One of the most distintive aspects of the empire was it’s state organization, religious traditions, and how the two affected each other from the development until the decline of the empire.
rompt: List and explore in depth the factors that contributed to the rapid and widespread adoption of the Islamic Faith and the creation of an empire that extended from Spain to the farthest borders of the Persian Empire.
Analysis For hundreds of years before European intervention, the Ottoman Empire had controlled or annexed most of the Arabic people. However few states did exist, mostly on the Saudi Arabian peninsula, they possessed minimal forms of government and rule, existing in small tribal states. Despite the immense territorial possessions of the Ottoman Empire, it began to decline with a series of military defeats beginning in the 16th century. Most of their fleet was wiped with a loss of 210 ships and 30,000 men killed1, and the event is often cited by historians as the ‘end of Turkish supremacy in the Mediterranean’2, and the turning point of Ottoman conquest and rule. It wasn’t until the end of the 19th century that the Ottoman Empire became the ‘sick man’ of Europe.
The Iranian Revolution of 1979 was a religious uprising that involved the collapse of the longstanding Monarchy in Iran. In this essay, I will compare and contrast the background and ideology of the Iranian Revolution with the Russian Revolution of 1917. I will then outline the major differences and similarities between the two.
While the western half of the divided Roman Empire collapsed from foreign invaders, the surviving eastern side thrived and excelled way longer in the city of Constantinople. Influenced by external Greek and Latin civilizations, the Eastern Roman Empire transformed all aspects of their culture including government structure. Once a new capital was established by Emperor Constantine I, the empire slowly gained power and flourished into a strong civilization overtime. The foreign effects of many countries have shaped the Byzantine Empire’s governing system pattern and consequently helped with further expansion at the cost of many revolts and rebellions.
All civilizations come to an end. However, throughout history a few have stood out. Civilizations that withstood the test of time. Revolutionary societies that changed the whole world. Some of these changes are still around today, and that is a testament if nothing else. With all great societies, however will come weaknesses. No civilization has lasted forever. It may take one thousand years, or even longer, but if a society cannot admit its weaknesses and fix them, it will crumble. Such is the story with the Ottoman Empire. Their Empire began in the year 1300 and would last all the way to the first World War. The Ottomans were no exception to the rule though. Their society, for all its might and intellect, could not see their way was also
...forces (then still under the Sultan) were nearly able to defeat the Greek rebels until the British, French, and Russians united to help the Greeks. Without the Treaty of Balta Liman and the concessions forced out of the Ottoman Empire, they may have been able to develop a modern economy, rather than being indebted to Europe. That would have allowed them to pay for a modern military that could resist European aggression. If not for Western powers short-circuting the defensive developmental plans of the Ottoman Empire. However, it is unrealistic to assume that Europe would have allowed the Ottomans to develop into a modern power--across the world, the major European powers acted to prevent all other countries from becoming their equals. If they had not intervened when they did, they almost certainly would have at some other point in order to assure their dominance.
The Ottoman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in history, spanning from the 13th century in Northwestern Anatolia, to the late 19th century having reached Europe, Africa, and Asia respectively. As the rest of the world advanced and modernized, though, the Ottoman Empire struggled to maintain power and territory, and it began to implement a series of reforms to try to keep up with the likes of Europe. This is where we eventually see the once-prosperous empire struggle against the rest of the modern world, which eventually led to its downfall.
...vided and chaotic. The Ottoman Turks took advantage of the declining empire during a war often referred to as the Turkish War. During this time, the Ottomans, which were mostly composed of Sunni Muslims, conquered the Byzantine Empire through a series of battles, and expanded the territory into Balkan. The new Ottoman Empire peaked under the leadership of Emperor Süleyman I. While the Ottoman Empire reached its highest point due to it’s military and governmental strengths, the Byzantine Empire fell in 1265.
Islamic nation. As examples given earlier about modernization which includes nations such as Turkey and on the other side of the spectrum the practice of Islamic Shariah. As a final note, my main objective from this book review is to see Islam from the eye of Muslims and Non-Muslims alike.