Civilizations in Crisis The Ottoman Empire Islamic Heartlands

The Ottoman Empire Created by Turkish tribes in Anatolia (Asia Minor) that grew to be one of the most powerful states in the world during the 15 th and 16 th centuries Ottoman period spans more than 600 years

What Contributed to the Ottoman Crisis? Leadership Issues Economic Issues Military & Territorial Issues

How did the Empire survive? Divisions between European Powers Each European power feared that the others would gain more from total dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire Reforms from Within Reforms initiated at the top of the imperial system and carried out in stages Created increased tensions within the ruling elite

Sultan Mahmud II Establishes diplomatic corps and exchanges ambassadors with the West Expands Westernization of his army

Tanzimat Reforms ( ) University education State-run postal and telegraph systems Newspapers Legal reforms Constitution

Sultan Abdul Hamid’s Repression Sultanate was seen as a barrier to transformation Return to despotic absolutism But still pushed for westernization

Revolt Ottoman Society for Union and Progress Young Turks Determined to restore the 1876 constitution and resume reforms 1908 coup is successful Restores constitution Promises reforms Sultan is retained as a political figurehead and highest religious authority in Islam

Mixed Results for Young Turks Officers embroiled in factional fights Loss during wars in the Balkans Conflict with Italy over Libya (last possession in North Africa) Resistance in Arab portions of empire Avoided collapse of the empire by achieving last- gasp military victories and playing hostile European powers against each other Outbreak of WWI cuts short the work of the Young Turks

Islamic Heartlands Fertile Crescent, Egypt, costal Arabia, and north Africa Resented Turkish domination but could identify with the Ottomans as fellow defenders of the faith and patrons of Islamic culture Islamic world displaced by West as leading civilization Crisis of confidence

Napoleon’s Invasion of Egypt Mamluk regime led by Murad dismissed Napoleon Suffered crushing defeat Evidence of ignorance of events in Europe and vulnerability in war

Muhammad Ali Not this oneTHIS one

Muhammad Ali Put together the most effective fighting force in the Middle East Fell short of a fundamental transformation of Egyptian society Limited scope of reforms left Egypt open to inroads by European powers Successors lacked his ambition Descendants (known as khedives) would be overthrown by a military coup that brought Gamel Abdul Nasser to power in 1952

Bankruptcy Successors unable to continue reform and revitalization Revenues were wasted on extravagances Growing indebtedness to European financiers

Suez Canal Completed in 1869 Connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas Transformed Egypt into one of the most strategic places on earth

How to ward off the growing European menace? Religious Focus Prominent Islamic scholars called for a jihad Muslim world can only be saved by a return to patterns of religious observance and social interaction of the golden age of Muhammad Scientific/Knowledge Focus Others (led by al-Afghani and Muhammad Abduh) stressed need for scientific learning and technology Argued for tradition of rational inquiry in Islamic history

Their differences and the uncertainties they interjected into Islamic efforts to cope with the challenges of the West remain central problems in the Muslim world today Both groups agreed on the need for Muslim unity in the face of the growing European threat but could not reconcile their very different approaches to Islamic renewal

Direct European control over the Islamic heartlands begins

Muhammad Achmad Leader of Islamic rebellion Became known as the Mahdi (promised deliverer)

Jihad The Mahdi jihad against Egyptian heretics and British infidels represented the most extreme and violent Islamic response to the perceived dilution of Islam in Africa and the growing threat of Europe

Khalifa Abdallahi The Mhadi’s successor Built a strong, expansive state Sought to build a closely controlled society

End of the Mahdist State Mahdist forces were no match for British expedititionary force led by General Kitchener Spears vs. Machine Guns

Islamic civilization at the end of the 19 th century A time of reverses for the people of the Islamic world Islamic community grew increasingly anxious over the dangers that lay ahead Islamic civilization is not defeated but is threatened