AP World History POD #17 – Sick Old Man of Europe Tanzimat Reforms

Class Discussion Notes Bulliet et. al – “The Ottoman Empire”, pp

Tanzimat Restructuring reforms by the 19 th century Ottoman rulers intended to move civil law away from the control of the religious elites and make the military and the bureaucracy more efficient

Opponents of Reform Janissaries – suspected the sultan of trying to limit their political status and influence (revolted in 1805 forcing the sultan to rely on the Bosnian ruler to suppress the rebellion) Ulama – Muslim religious scholars who distrusted the Sultan Selim’s proposed secularization of law and taxation (Selim was forced to suspend these program in 1806 and was eventually deposed and imprisoned before finally being executed)

Sultan Mahmud II Selim’s cousin, cautiously revived the reform programs, but understood they needed to be enacted in a calculated systematic manner, as well as being imposed more forcefully (he used the successful reform movement in Egypt under Muhammad Ali as a model)

Greek Independence “Greek independence in 1829 had dramatic international significance. A combination of Greek nationalist organizations and interlopers from Albania formed the independence movement. Europe’s interest in the classical age of Greece and Rome led many Europeans to consider the Greek’s struggle for independence a campaign to recapture their classical glory from Muslim oppression. Some – including the “mad, bad and dangerous to know” English poet Lord Byron, who lost his life in the war – went to Greece to fight as volunteers. When the combined squadrons of the British, French, and Russian fleets, under orders to observe but not intervene in the war, made an unauthorized attack that sank the Ottoman fleet at the Battle of Navarino, Greek victory was assured.” (Bulliet, p. 664)

Destruction of the Janissaries The Ottoman defeat in Greece was a signal to both Sultan Mahmud II, as well as the larger world community of significant weakness 1826 – public announcement of the creation of a new artillery unit that had secretly been training The Janissaries revolted upon hearing this announcement, but the Sultan responded by ordering the artillery unit to shell the Janissary barracks The Janissary Corps was officially disolved

Taking on the Religious Elites “Like Muhammad Ali, Mahmud felt he could not implement major changes without reducing the political power of the religious elite. He visualized restructuring the bureaucracy and the educational and legal systems, where ulama power was strongest. Before such strong measures could be undertaken, however, Ibrahim attacked Syria in Battlefield defeat, the decision of the rebuilt Ottoman navy to switch sides and support Egypt, and the death of Mahmud, all in the same year, left the empire completely dependent on the European powers for survival.” (Bulliet, p. 665)

Tanzimat Reforms of Abdul Mejid Public trials and equal protection under the law for all whether Christian, Jew or Muslim Guaranteed rights of privacy Equalized the eligibility of men for conscription into the army New tax collection system, ending the system of tax farming Commercial, criminal and civil procedures and legal codes were reformed to replace the control of the shari’a (Islamic Law) over these areas Shari’a was resticted to matters of family law such as marriage and inheritance *** Historians often reference these refroms as the dawn of modern thought, secularism and enlightened government in the Middle East

Military Reform Cadets were sent to France and Germany for training 1830 – Ottoman School of Military Science (later Istanbul University) was established employing instructors from western Europe to teach engineering and physical sciences etc 1838 – a medical school was established to teach military doctors and surgeons A national system of prep schools was established to feed students into the universities French became the preferred instructional language in all advanced professional and scientific training

The Fez “Changes in military practice had unforeseen cultural and social effects. Accepting the European notion that modern weapons and drill required modern military dress, beards were deemed unhygienic and, in artillery units, a fire hazard. Military headgear also became controversial. European military caps, which had leather bills on the front to protect against the glare of the sun, were not acceptable because they interfered with Muslim soldiers’ touching their foreheads to the ground in prayer. The compromise was the brimless cap now called the fez, which was adopted by the military and then by Ottoman civil officials in the early years of Mahmud II’s reign.” (Bulliet, p. 665)

Civil Service The practice of recruiting government officials from traditional bureaucratic families and offering on-the-job training was replaced by a civil service system hiring men who were products of the new educational system This new work force adopted western style dress as opposed to the traditional fashions that were symbolic of the religious, rural and parochial

Legal Reforms Secularization of the legal code Ended the shari’a practice of a head tax on non-Muslims making the non- Muslims eligible for military service as well (unless they bought there way out) All male subjects had equal access to civil courts (Islamic Law courts were reduced)

Status of Women “The public rights and political participation granted during the Tanzimat applied specifically to men. Private life, including everything connected to marriage and divorce, remained within the sphere of religious law, and at no time was there a question of political participation or reformed education for women. Indeed, the reforms may have decreased the influence of women. The political changes ran parallel to economic changes that also narrowed women’s opportunities.” (Bulliet, p. 666)