1. Ottomans & Arabs Chapter 26

2. Ottoman: factors of decline
Competition b/w elites
Weak rulers
Increasingly powerful Janissary corps
Increased competition from European merchants
Military challenges from the West
Ottomans vs Russia (result: loss of Serbia, Greece and most of balkans)

3. Survival Played European rivals against each other
Selim III: reformed bureaucracy, new army & navy. Killed by Janissaries in 1807
Mahmud II: slaughtered Janissaries, families and religious allies, reforms based on Western influence (angered conservative religious leaders)
Tanzimat Reforms: : series of Western influenced reforms in education, government, newspapers, constitution. Introduction of Railroad & telegraph systems effect: communication increased, minority groups increased power
Consequences: artisans negatively effected (thank you, Britain), women’s status remained stagnant

4. Backlash to reforms Conflict b/w old and new orders
Abdul Hamid: attempted return to despotic governing..nullified constitution, removed Westerners in power, continued SOME Western practices
Coup 1908: Ottoman Society for Union and Progress (Young Turks) fought for return to 1876 constitution, Sultan remained as figurehead
War in N. Africa: Ottomans lost Libya
Young Turks vs Arabs
WWI: Turkey sided with Germany…..

5. Arab Heartlands Fertile Crescent, Egypt, North Africa
Identified with Ottoman rulers as Muslims, disliked Ottoman rule
Fear of Western rule

6. Muhammad Ali, Westernizing Egypt
Napoleon invades Egypt: (1798) example of Western military power, eventually defeated by the British
Western reforms introduced (military, agriculture) little accomplished in the long-term
Khedives: Muhammad’s descendents, ruled Egypt until 1952

7. Issues and European Help
Cotton: solely dependent on export
Misuse of money by the elite
Indebted to European powers
Suez Canal: introduces power struggle b/w European powers and Egypt (France and Britain)
Conservative Muslims resented Western presence
Liberal Muslims borrowed from West
Skirmish b/w Britain and Khedival army results in British domination (Egypt is NOT colonized)

8. Egypt in Sudan Sudan exploited, forced to reform slave trade
Jihad called against Egyptian rulers and Britain
Sudan successful in maintaining independence until 1896
Western tech vs Eastern tech