“The Sick Man of Europe” A Story of the Ottoman Empire 11.3

The Ottoman Empire At the height of its power, OE stretched from Hungary in Europe to Algeria in N. Africa Suleyman I (r. 1520-1566) Known for reforming the army and judicial system Doubled the Ottoman territory Died during the war with Austria in Hungary Succeeded by his son Selim II

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire Selim II (r. 1566-1574) Known for the beginning of the decline of the empire, Selim II was a distracted emperor His nickname was “Selim the Drunk” From here it continues to go downhill Selim III (r. 1789 – 1808) comes to power During his rule, problems with nationalism start to emerge and this is where the breakup beginnings Greece is the first in the 1830s He is overthrown and put in prison

The European Perspective Europeans see the OE as weak and ready to be torn apart European countries want Ottoman land b/c of it’s access to the Mediterranean Sea + Black Sea Russia, specifically, wanted Ottoman land b/c they were landlocked + wanted a way to trade in the Mediterranean Sea Wanted a port on the Black Sea (warm weather port)

The Crimean War 1853 – Crimean War broke out between the Ottomans + Russians Russia has been trying to get a port on the Black Sea from the OE for a long time Britain + France fought on the side of the Ottomans b/c they wanted to keep the Russians from gaining any Ottoman land Defeated Russia Crimean War firsts: Women operated on the battlefield as nurses Covered by newspaper correspondents

The Ottoman Empire Shrinks Even with help, Ottomans continued to lose land Russians aided the Slavs in the Balkans and won Ottomans lost Romania, Montenegro, Cyprus, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria Also lost land in N. Africa

The Great Game British attempted to keep the Ottomans propped up, mostly to protect India (the Russians wanted it) Great Game: War b/c the Russians and British over India Britain tried to push its borders beyond India and Russia tried to push into India They clash in Afghanistan and in 1921 Britain agrees its Indian holdings will not spread past the Khyber Pass

Great Game http://afghanistan.asiasociety.org/timeline/59/CE/1838

Egypt: Case Study History of Imperialism in Eqypt Alexander the Great The Romans Napoleon and the French Ottoman Empire Muslim – controlled most of the Middle East, Spain 1805: Muhammad Ali – Ottoman officer Seized power in Egypt and created an independent state But still heavily influenced by the Ottoman Empire

Egypt: A Case Study Suez Canal Started by French 1856 – Egyptian leader gives Ferdinand De Lesseps permission to construct the canal Sold stock in the canal company to help finance it English take a huge interest in Egypt AFTER the canal is built Bought the Egyptian share of the stock (44%) Gets them safely and quickly to India British take control of Egypt in 1882 and it becomes a British protectorate in 1914