The Ottomans, “The Sick Man of Europe” and a bit about Egypt

I. Ottoman Empire A. What was happening in the Ottoman Empire? 1. Succession of weak rulers 2. Corruption 3. Artisan workers in towns – negatively impacted by competition from imported goods from Europe – This led to urban riots. 4. Merchants grew more dependent on doing business with European counterparts – this led to economic dependence of Ottoman Empire on European political rivals

5. Ottomans pushed out of areas like Eastern Europe 6. Russia becomes a major threat to the Ottomans (led to Crimean War) 7. Empire was crumbling a. Greeks gain independence in 1830 b. by 1867 Serbia independent c. by 1870s Ottomans had been driven out from Balkans 8. Europeans helped keep Ottomans in power – because they didn’t want each other to get Ottoman possessions

B. So the Ottomans make some reforms 1. Sultan Selim III (r. 1789-1807) a. Wanted bold reforms b. Improved administration c. Built new army & navy d. These reforms made people angry: 1. people in the bureaucracy 2. the Janissary corps who dominated the Ottoman military ** His reforms cost him his throne – toppled by a Janissary revolt **

Selem III

2. Mahmud II (r. 1808-1839) a. Built a small professional army with help of European advisors in secret b. 1826 he tricked and killed the Janissaries and slaughtered their families and religious allies c. Implemented reforms based on Western precedents 1. Diplomatic corps & exchanged ambassadors with European powers 2. Westernization of army expanded – with western military advisors

Mahmud II

3. Abdülmecid I (1839-1861) a. Son of Mahmud II b. Tanzimat reforms (between 1839 - 1876) 1. University education was reorganized along western lines 2. Training in European sciences and mathematics was introduced 3. State run postal and telegraph systems were established in 1830s 4. Railways built in 1860s 5. Newspapers established 6. Legal reforms c. Some groups were hurt or gained little from Tanzimat reforms: 1. Artisans weakened by treaty with British that removed barriers to foreign trade 2. Women gained little

Abdülmecid I

4. 1876 constitution based on European prototypes (Sultans still rule too) *. Once westernized, some groups saw sultanate as barrier to more radical reform

5. Sultan Abdul Hamid (r. 1878-1908) a. Returned to absolutism b. Nullified the constitution c. Restricted civil liberties esp. freedom of press d. Killed/imprisoned dissidents or suspected dissidents e. Still pushed for western reforms *. Especially military – German advisors f. Railroads linked Berlin to Baghdad g. Telegraph lines built h. Western education

6. Ottoman Society for Union and Progress a. Turkish intellectuals b. Young Turks c. Want to restore the Constitution of 1876 d. Sympathy within military helped and e. Bloodless coup in 1908 – overthrew Abdul Hamid f. Fought among themselves g. Wanted to keep Ottoman Empire intact (many people, like the Arabs wanted Ottoman rule to end) h. Continued to lose territory i. WWI begins….

II. A bit about Egypt (recap and some new stuff) A. It’s July 1798 and 1. Mamluk (slave) regime rules Egypt as vassal of Ottoman sultans 2. Napoleon arrives 3. Defeats Mamluks in the Battle of the Pyramids a. French occupy Egypt b. Mamluks are deeply shocked

B. In August 1798 1. British sink most of French fleet in the Battle of Aboukir 2. French supply line cut – Napoleon abandons army and creeps back to Paris (and…well…you know that story) 3. French withdraw

C. In 1801 Muhammad Ali (young officer of Albanian origin) becomes ruler 1. Modernizes the military 2. Hires French military advisors 3. Builds fleet 4. Invades Syria 5. Encourages peasants to grow cash- crops and material in demand in Europe 6. Tries to industrialize 7. He died in 1848

Not this one… …this one.

D. His successors content to rule only Egypt and Sudanic areas 1. Rulers were called “khedives” from 1867 - 1952 2. Not strong 3. Made Egypt dependent on cotton – single crop 4. Wasted money 5. Debt and strategic importance of Suez canal led to British control (and you know that story as well!)