Empires and Imperialism

The Ottoman Empire What do you remember about the Ottoman Empire? Who were the important people?

Selim III Selim III (r. 1789-1807) Attempted Improvements Intelligent and forward thinking Looks to European models to solve the problems of the Ottoman Empire Attempted Improvements European style military units Control of provincial governors Reform the tax system

Selim III Why did Selim III’s attempts to reform the Ottoman empire fail? Janissaries Serbian uprising Ulma Executed before his cousin and supporters could retake control No success for reforms because people benefited from old systems

Crimean War Greek Independence showcases Ottoman weakness Peter the Great pushing to expand southward into Ottoman territory Desires access to the Mediterranean sea Russians, in exchange for help during the Egyptian invasion of Syria, named the protector of all Orthodox subjects Sultan names French the protector of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem

Crimean War The Eastern Question Should the Ottoman Empire continue to exist? If not, who should rule the territory?

Crimean War Fought between 1853 and 1856 Britain, France, and Italian kingdoms side with Ottomans Why does this decision seem out of character? What were the motives of these countries?

Crimean War Nothing goes right for the Russians Navy trapped in Black Sea Corruption and lack of effective transportation leaves troops without supplies Disease Forced to seek peace agreement when their main fort in Crimea falls

Outcomes of the Crimean War Peace treaty Blocked Russians from expanding southward to the Mediterranean Stopped the French and British from taking Ottoman territory for their exclusive use Meant they could seize land as long as they shared with everyone else too

Changes due to the Crimean War First time Newspaper propaganda campaigns were important in Britain and France MARKED THE CHANGE FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN WARFARE

Ottoman Changes Extraterritoriality Allowing the Europeans to live in their own little areas in Istanbul Intense integration into European trading network Population movement to the cities Inflation Lack of exports Movement for a secular government in 1860s and 1870’s

Ottoman Empire Decline What forces led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire? Does this list seem familiar?

The Russian Empire Really big, lots of potential, but somewhat backwards compared to Europe Only about 6% of population lives in cities by mid 1800s Very agricultural society Lack of effective, reliable transportation system Industrialization and development relied heavily on the importation of knowledge and skill from Europe Uneducated, traditional, diverse society

Liberal vs Conservative Leadership Alexander I Attempted to force reforms on Russia including Encouraging more education including more Universities and studying abroad Modernizing the army New Bureaucratic regime Decembrist movement Death of Alexander brings chaos and confusion to empire in 1825 Army Officers attempt a coup to take control Exposed to the Western European system Want to see reform in government Movement fails and Nicholas I learns to distrust the Liberal contingents within his own government

Liberal vs Conservative Leadership Nicholas I Conservative, reactionary Liberal ideas discouraged Bureaucracy begins to take effect and flourish despite efforts by ruling families to discourage

The Russian Empire Nicholas I feared potential political challenges if a middle class developed Kept literacy to a minimum Bought industrial goods and paid with exports of grain and timber Slavophiles Opposed to westernization Orthodox faith the bedrock of society

Liberal Vs Conservative Leadership Alexander II Returns to a more reform-minded approach Slavophile thinking begins to emerge as a prominent cultural current Narodniki movement Feodor Dostoyevsky writes in this time period

Qing Empire What things aren’t going well for the Qing?

Qing Empire Population growth and pressures Destroys environment Landless, homeless vagabonds Annoyance growing with subjugated minorities Distrust of government officials Growing presence of European traders Inability of the Qing officials to maintain control in parts of the empire

White Lotus Rebellion 1794-1804 Takes hold in parts of central China Hatred for the Qing foreign rule grows Predict the return of the Ming dynasty and the coming of the Buddha Militias of some areas able to successfully defend themselves from the Qing forces and attach others Chaos ensues

Opium War British response to growing trade deficit with China was to sell Opium Huge problem for Chinese as large portions of the population become addicted Chinese Emperor seeks a meeting with the British to discuss stopping the importation of the drug English Refuse Chinese declare war

Opium War Chinese forces inadequate Bannerman outdated Most fight with swords, knives, and clubs No navy Old technology Slow movement British Marines move at will along the coast and up the Chinese Rivers

Treaty of Nanking Chinese forced to admit defeat End of the Canton system Five ports opened to European trade Hong Kong becomes English colony Most-favored-nation status Granted to Britain in the following year Any privilege granted to another country is automatically granted to the British

The Taiping Rebellion 1851-1864 What were some of the forces conspiring to start a civil war in China? Unhappiness with the Qing Inability to control territory Foreign invasion into territory and trade

The Taiping Rebellion Hong Xiuquan Member of the minority group Hakkas Founder of the rebellion Attempted to become a bureaucrat but failed the examinations repeatedly Had a mental breakdown Met protestant missionaries in Canton Believed himself the younger brother of Jesus Commissioned by God to drive the Manchus out of China “Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace”

The Taiping Rebellion Spread throughout parts of the country Many feared the coming of the rebellion Did not want to be forced into their army Confucian bureaucrats feared the adoption of foreign gods and a change in the system Settle the Kingdom of Heaven in Nanjing City is seiged by the Qing but is well fortified and supplied Eventual European involvement in conflict and second round of opium wars brings the Qing to the knees