1. Ottoman Decline

2. Objectives
Today we will identify the characteristics of the decline of the Ottoman Empire

3. Ottoman Territorial Expansion and Government
Immediately following the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, the Ottoman sultans moved to expand their territory

4. Expansion under Sultan Selim I (1512-1520)
The Balkans
Calls for crusade went unanswered and by the 16th century, the Ottoman’s had created a foothold.
Egypt
Palestine
Syria
Ottoman successes against the Mamluks provided the cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem

5. Expansion under Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566)
Empire reached the apex of its power
Central Europe
Serbian capital of Belgrade (1521)
Laid siege to Vienna (1529)
Overextension and weather ended the siege, but they left behind coffee
Hungary, The Balkan Peninsula, territory around the Black Sea, the Anatolian Peninsula, Arab territories in the Middle East, Egypt and the northern Sudan, eastern Mediterranean islands (Rhodes, Crete), North African coastal areas and Morocco. (1566)

6. The Ottoman Royal Administration
Highly centralized
The Sultan was the supreme political, religious and military ruler
No tradition of primogeniture
All half brothers in the harem were potential candidates for the throne.
The grand vizier and the divan (imperial counsel) were responsible for political and economic administration
Administration was highly complex and required a multitude of bureaucrats (drawn from a landed elite)

7. Management of the Empire
Major provinces were were placed under the control of appointed governors.
The provinces which were closer to the Anatolian Peninsula had greater oversight and tighter controls.
The further from Istanbul, the greater amount of autonomy.

8. Financing the Empire
Financing derived from new wealth acquired from the expansion of the empire and from taxes
Tax farming was practiced, where tax farmers would received a percentage of total taxes collected.
As in Rome and China, abuse and corruption became apparent.

9. Social and Economic Life in the Ottoman Empire
During the Golden Age under Suleiman, Ottoman society was markedly open.
Initially, no attempt to impose Turkish language, Islamic religion.
Under the Millet system, ethnic groups retained their economic, educational and religious, and political customs.
Upward mobility was possible for non-Muslims.
The Ottoman Empire was the center of trade between Europe, Africa, and Asia.

10. The Decline of the Ottoman Empire
A military defeat of Suleiman’s successor, Selim II, at the Battle of Lepanto (1571) marks the beginning of military decline that lasts over 200 years.
Why Decline?
The Sultans did not adopt modern military reforms.
The Ottoman economy, army and navy could not keep pace with the Western powers.
European merchants took over sea trade.
Ottoman’s were turned back at the gates of Vienna in 1683, and Austria expanded into Hungary and Transylvania.
By 1774, the Ottomans granted Russia the official protectorate of Christians living within the its empire.

11. Exit Ticket
What do the decline in Polish and Ottoman power in the 18th century reveal about the differences between them and successful powers in Europe at this time?