The Ottoman Empire in Decline
- Ottoman power declined because the Ottoman state could no longer ward off European
economic influence or maintain territories: north African provinces declared
independence and European states seized territories in n/w part of Ottoman empire
The Nature of Decline
- As Janissaries increased in political power, they neglected their military training and
ignored advances in military technology
- The loss of military power translated into loss of power by the central govt: governors
formed private armies, used fiscal/administrative institutions to collect taxes and central
state lost revenue because they sent only nominal payments
- Territorial losses: Caucasus/Central Asia (Russia), western frontiers (Austrian empire),
Greece, Egypt
- Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt failed, but sparked turmoil in Egypt that led local elites to
seize power (Muhammad Ali)
- Muhammad Ali built an army modeled on European forces to rule Egypt; he led
industrialization in Egypt by focusing on cotton textile production; he invaded Syria,
Antolia, and threatened the Ottoman power by threatening Istanbul
- Trade through Ottoman empire declined as European merchants relied less on Ottoman
intermediaries for Asian trade; by 18th century, European trade shifted to Atlantic Ocean
basin where Ottomans had no presence
- Cheap European manufactured goods put pressure on Ottoman artisans, who led riots
to protest foreign imports
- Ottoman exports (grain, cotton, hemp, opium) failed to offset imports of European goods
- Ottoman empire depended heavily on foreign loans to finance construction of railroads,
utilities, and mining enterprises; eventually the Ottoman state couldn’t pay off interests
and had to accept foreign administration of debts
- Capitulations were agreements that exempted European visitors from Ottoman law and
provided European powers extraterritoriality; were seen as humiliations to the Ottoman
State
- Capitulations helped Europeans penetrate into Ottoman economy as European
businessmen established commercial enterprises and levied duties on goods sold in
Ottoman ports
- Ottoman bureaucracy/military was financially difficult to maintain; declining incomes led
to reduced morale, recruitment difficulties, corruption
Why did the Janissaries lose military power and what was the impact of such a loss?
Where did the Ottoman Empire lose territory?
How did Muhammad Ali strengthen Egypt against the Ottoman Empire?
Why did Ottoman presence decrease in European trade?
Why did the Ottoman empire accept foreign loans?
How did capitulations help the European powers exert more power on the ottoman empire?
- Extraterritorial rights to european merchants, tax privileges, allowed european
businessmen to establish commercial enterprises in ottoman markets
What did financial difficulty maintaining the Ottoman bureaucracy lead to?
- Ottoman power declined because the Ottoman state could no longer ward off European
economic influence or maintain territories: north African provinces declared
independence and European states seized territories in n/w part of Ottoman empire
The Nature of Decline
- As Janissaries increased in political power, they neglected their military training and
ignored advances in military technology
- The loss of military power translated into loss of power by the central govt: governors
formed private armies, used fiscal/administrative institutions to collect taxes and central
state lost revenue because they sent only nominal payments
- Territorial losses: Caucasus/Central Asia (Russia), western frontiers (Austrian empire),
Greece, Egypt
- Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt failed, but sparked turmoil in Egypt that led local elites to
seize power (Muhammad Ali)
- Muhammad Ali built an army modeled on European forces to rule Egypt; he led
industrialization in Egypt by focusing on cotton textile production; he invaded Syria,
Antolia, and threatened the Ottoman power by threatening Istanbul
- Trade through Ottoman empire declined as European merchants relied less on Ottoman
intermediaries for Asian trade; by 18th century, European trade shifted to Atlantic Ocean
basin where Ottomans had no presence
- Cheap European manufactured goods put pressure on Ottoman artisans, who led riots
to protest foreign imports
- Ottoman exports (grain, cotton, hemp, opium) failed to offset imports of European goods
- Ottoman empire depended heavily on foreign loans to finance construction of railroads,
utilities, and mining enterprises; eventually the Ottoman state couldn’t pay off interests
and had to accept foreign administration of debts
- Capitulations were agreements that exempted European visitors from Ottoman law and
provided European powers extraterritoriality; were seen as humiliations to the Ottoman
State
- Capitulations helped Europeans penetrate into Ottoman economy as European
businessmen established commercial enterprises and levied duties on goods sold in
Ottoman ports
- Ottoman bureaucracy/military was financially difficult to maintain; declining incomes led
to reduced morale, recruitment difficulties, corruption
Why did the Janissaries lose military power and what was the impact of such a loss?
Where did the Ottoman Empire lose territory?
How did Muhammad Ali strengthen Egypt against the Ottoman Empire?
Why did Ottoman presence decrease in European trade?
Why did the Ottoman empire accept foreign loans?
How did capitulations help the European powers exert more power on the ottoman empire?
- Extraterritorial rights to european merchants, tax privileges, allowed european
businessmen to establish commercial enterprises in ottoman markets
What did financial difficulty maintaining the Ottoman bureaucracy lead to?
