Ottoman Empire Imperialism and Modernity

1. Ottoman EmpireImperialism and Modernity

2. Islamic Empires: ~1500-1800

3. Ottomans: Origins • Of the tribe of Osman (1258-1326) • Carved out a following, and 'principality' in north West Turkey during time of Seljuks in Turkey (1098-1308) • Notice proximity to Byzantium

5. Ottomans: Cosmology and Politics • Cosmology • Like Judaism and Christianity, Monotheistic • La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadu Rasul Allah” which is translated into “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the [last] Messenger of God” in English • Strong sense of destiny, purpose, fraternity, righteousness • Tolerant of other Monotheistic faiths, but not of polytheists

6. Centralized around the leader (sultan) Power was always transferred to a single person, and not split between rival princes The Ottoman Empire was successfully ruled by a single family for 7 centuries. Janissary: elite military; gunpowder, loyal 'orphaned' slaves to the sultanate Semi-Automous Millets: sociological organization through religion "Non communities were allowed to practice their own religion and administer their own internal affars, including the management of education, charity, police, judicary" (Haberman and Shubert, 133) Other features: Promotion to positions of power largely depended on merit Created alliances across political and racial groups United by Islamic ideology Education system through the Ulema (religious scholars) Umma: concept of a unity (though not uniform) Islamic community United by Islamic warrior code with ideal of increasing Muslim territory with great effort United by Islamic organisational and administrative structures Highly pragmatic, taking the best ideas from other cultures and making them their own Encouraged loyalty from other faith groups Private power and wealth were curbed by loyalty to Sultan Very strong military Expert in developing gunpowder as a military tool Military ethos pervaded whole administration Ottoman Politics & Sociology

7. Ottoman Economy • 1452 conquering of Byzantium Constantinople, to Istanbul • Defined the economic status and nature of the Ottomans, till the empire crumbled in 1923 • Istanbul : political and military capital; great trade centres of the world. Another important city was Bursa, which was a centre of the silk trade. • Some of the later Ottoman conquests were clearly intended to give them control of other trade routes. • Among the goods traded were: • Silk and other cloth • Musk • Rhubarb • Porcelain from China • Spices such as pepper • Dyestuffs such as indigo • The economic strength of the Empire : Mehmet's policy of increasing the number of traders and artisans in the Empire. • He also encouraged Jewish traders from Europe to migrate to Istanbul and set up in business there. Later rulers continued these policies. • So, economy of trade along major trading route of the world.

8. India, China, Americas, pre-15th C, no intimate contact with Western Europe Not the same with Ottomans, and with Islam Islam a part of 'western heritage', insomuch as we count the Abrahamic tradition as a key feature of 'Western' civilization Islam and the WestOttomans and Modernity

9. Rise to power (1300-1600) coincided with political fragmentation in Europe Ottoman territorial expansion was considerable, into Europe Ottoman: Contact with Modernity

10. Conflict with West intensifies by late 16thC, when Western empires begin to reorganize and centralize An economic equal to Western powers until the Industrial revolution "Decline" started in 17th C Little to do with inflation from New World Bullion Or trade tampering with Asia Ottoman Empire strong trade links with India and China, rivalling Europe until late 18th, 19th C Industrial Revolution and start of Charter Companies began to compromise Ottoman income and influence Now the 'west' could by pass Arab ports Replaced by Charter Companies and their monopoly Modernity-vs-Ottoman

11. "Backward looking reforms" to emulate administration under Sulayman Selim III (1789-1807) Mahmud II (1808) Abdul Hamid and Tanzimat reforms Modernization of the Janissary Factories producing weapons of "western quality" Technical schools; navy; administration Introduction of Rule of Law, regulated bureaucracy, equality of subjects Central army to replace Janissary Replacement of the turban with the fez Training of officers and doctors European organized education, primary, secondary, university Ottoman Response to Modernity"Sick man" of Europe?

12. Historical trends • Turkification isolates traditional elements of Ottoman society • Europe begins to erode Ottoman borders • 'capitulations' (like reparations) paid as a result, further burdening the tax base of Ottoman society • Ottomans dragged into WW1, with Germany and Austria Hungary • During WW1, Britain supports growing Arab Nationalism by promising an Arab state if Ottoman's defeated (McMahon-Hussein Correspondence : 1915) • Britain also promises the same land to Zionest Hebrews (Balfour Report) • Post ww1: Mustafa Kemal turns Turkey into a secular Western Nation state • Post ww1: Sykes Picot Agreement angers Arab Leaders • Neo-colonial arrangement: Iraq, Jordan etc under French and British 'supervision' until Arab leaders can "prove" they can run a nation-state • Britain removes themselves from the process in 1948– Financially ruin after WW2 • USA pushes for creation of state of Israel in 1948 • Above events give rise to extremism