1. Decline of the Ottoman Empire
The Sick Man of Europe
Chapter 26

2. Essential Questions
How did the military defeats of the 1700s signal the decay of the Ottoman Empire?
What were some of the reasons for internal decay?
How did Sultan’s attempt to reform?
How did revolts and rebellions lead to further disintegration
What was the significance of the Eastern question?
What was the Balkan Crisis of ?
How did World War I lead to the empire’s fall?

3. Ottoman Empire in early 1700s

4. Military Defeats of the 1700s
1683: defeat after the siege of Vienna shows Ottoman weakness
Christian forces carve away at Ottoman lands
Treaties of Karlowitz (1699) and Passarowitz (1718) strip Ottoman of Hungary and Transylvania
Lose land in 1710s to Peter the Great
Lose Crimea (Balkan Peninsula) to Catherine the Great in late 1700s

5. Signs of Internal Decay
Poor rulers and weak corrupt government
Sultans want to modernize face opposition from influential old groups and clerics
Janissary army becomes outdated and refuse to change
Sultan Selim III assassinated by Janissaries in 1807 after attempting to modernize army and navy

6. General lack of interest in industrialization
Minority groups such as Christians and Jews carry out trade with the west
Competition with West  decline of local artisans

7. Attempts at Reform
Sultans modernize and secularize government bureaucracy
Boost western ideas, science and technology
Sometimes meet resistance from the clergy

8. Mahmud II (1808-1839) Built a small professional army
Tricks Janissaries into revolting
Crushes rebellion and disbands Janissary corps
Gets control over Ayan
Begins policy of westernization

9. Mehmed III 1820s: assists Mahumd II Creates professional army
Subdues Janissaries
Builds modern navy

10. Tanzimat Reforms 1839-1876 1839-1876 Westernization of education
Introduces western communication systems
Western style laws and constitution
Some increased rights for women, some women enter public life

11. Revolts and Rebellions
Further weaken and cut away at the Ottoman Empire

12. Revolts and Rebellions
1820 Greek Revolution: Greece gains independence from the Ottoman Empire
1867 Serbs gain independence
Dynasty begins to feel increasingly threatened by westernized bureaucrats, professionals and military officers

13. Abdul Hamid (1878-1908) last sultan
Attempts return to despotic absolutism, nullifies constitution and decreases civil rights
Continues to adopt western tech and military
Forced out with bloodless coup

14. The Eastern Question
How should Western European rulers deal with the Ottoman Empire?
No longer a threat
Held together volatile parts of Asia and Europe
Held important place geographically between Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean

15. Worry that collapse will destroy Europe’s delicate Balance of Power
Western nations especially nervous about increasing Austrian and Russian power
Britain and France support Turks against Russia and Austria even as they take over parts of the empire

16. Eastern Question in Cartoons
Attendant. "How do you feel after your bath, my Lord?" LORD B. "Pretty comfortable, thank you!—(Aside. Lost some weight, I fancy.) —You made it so confoundedly HOT  for me!!!"
< The Turkish bath / John Tenniel.  In: Punch (7 Oct 1876)
Gladstone tried to influence Government policy on the Eastern Question by appealing directly to the public, both on the platform and through the press, on behalf of  the Bulgarian victims of Turkish persecution.   

17. Eastern Question in Cartoons
The Status Quo
Turkey: Will you still
Befriend me?
Britannia: Befriend You?-
Not with your hands
That colour!

18. The Crimean War
Britain and France support Ottmans in war against Russian expansion into Black sea
Costly war with over 250,000 casualties
Defeat Russia’s forces but shows weakness of Ottoman Empire

19. British Attitude of the Crimean War
How Jack Made the Turk Usefula at Balaclaya (1856, John Leech in Punch)

20. As is that weren’t bad enough…
Construction of Suez Canal in 1869 increases geographic importance of Egypt
Unification of Italy in 1860s adds another power into the Mediterranean
Montenegro, Romania, and Bulgaria struggle for greater autonomy

21. Balkan Crisis of
Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia rise up
Turks suppress rebellion ruthlessly
Russia attacks in 1877, and defeats in 1878
Congress of Berlin of 1878 presided over by Bismarck gives Montenegro, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia independence

22. The Rise of the Young Turks
Ottoman Society for Union and Progress a.k.a. Young Turks formed in Paris 1889
Goal: restore the constitution of 1876
Successful in 1908

23. Problems 1908-1914 Division between military leaders  fighting
Young Turks struggle to keep empire together
Increasing Arab nationalism  more loss of land

24. Balkan Wars & World War I
Italy attacks Ottoman and takes control of remaining land in North Africa
First Balkan War of 1912: Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria defeat Ottoman forces
During WWI join the Central powers and are defeated in 1918
Empire collapses, remaining middle eastern possessions rebel and are taken over by Britain and France
Modern State of Turkey formed in 1920s

25. Ottoman Empire during WWI

26. Change Over Time
Discuss in detail the internal and external forces that led to the decline of the Ottoman Empire between 1689 and 1918
Be sure to include (see rubric!)
A strong thesis statement
Historical evidence of change
Analysis of both internal and external causes of decline