Marcus Dagher

4th hour
3/25/13
Change and Continuity- Ottoman Empire
During the time period between 1750 and 1900, the Ottoman Empire had
undergone vast transformations in which their political and economical aspects were both
altered and preserved. While the efficiency of the powerful European producers
continued to economically deteriorate the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman government was
forced to change, which meant that the empire had to begin using foreign support to aid
in economic development. In the nineteenth century, the Ottoman military will intensify
through the westernization movements of sultan Mahumud II. A new group called the
Tanzimat reformers will also promote European political ideas that they believed would
augment the Ottoman governments rule. However throughout this duration, Ottoman
territory will continue to be lost to neighboring civilizations.
The effectiveness of European producers on the Ottoman economy will continue
to cause an economical decline in the empire. Ottoman artisans and crafts people will be
threatened by the imports of Europes cheap, high-quality products due to their chance of
losing their jobs. The Ottomans exports of raw materials such as grain, cotton, opium,
and indigo couldnt surpass the higher financial worth of imported European products.
With this issue, the Ottoman Empire will continue decline in revenue and eventually fall
into debt. This economic downfall will also be enriched as Europeans increasingly bypass
Ottoman merchants and instead trade through the Atlantic Ocean Basin with other areas
(such as India and China). Due to the Ottomans decline in revenue, this empire will

begin to rely on foreign loans in order to cultivate their economy. The Ottoman Empires
overuse of European funds (to construct railroads and utilities) will lead to high interest
payments that cant be supported by the Ottoman state. Eventually in 1882, the Ottoman
Empire will be forced to accept Europes control due to its inability to pay of its interest
debts.
Sultan Mahmud II will administrate various reforms to strengthen his military
based on the lines of Western Europe. In the nineteenth century, Ottoman soldiers were
taught European military strategies and the use of western weaponry. Mahmud II will
establish military and engineering schools that will teach European curricula, as well as
scientific, technical, and military academies for secondary students. This reform program
will be executed by Mahmud II in order to strengthen his military men, which could help
cease the Ottoman Empire from further decaying and win battles against foreign enemies.
These revolutionized Ottoman soldiers, for example, played a vital role in the defeat of
Russia during the Crimean War in the mid nineteenth century. During the Tanzimat era,
Tanzimat reformers will promote European legal ideas and attack Ottoman law. These
reformers will publicize a commercial, penal, maritime, and civil code as a suggestion for
the Ottomans legal system. Such ideas arose from the French legal system, which was
used as a guide for the Tanzimat reformers. Without the inspiration of Enlightenment
thought or access to the constitutional foundations of western European states, this
significant reform group wouldnt have emerged in the Ottoman Empire. The pattern of
territorial loss continues throughout the time period between 1750 and 1900 as
neighboring governments obtain territories. The Russian government will acquire the
Central Asian territory of Caucus from the Ottomans. Balkan provinces, such as Greece

and Serbia, will declare independence from the Ottoman Empire during the nineteenth
century after nationalist uprisings. Slowly one by one, governmental borders throughout
the Eastern Hemisphere are reshaping as the Ottoman Empire shrivels away.
The Ottoman Empire had significantly metamorphosed in the time duration
between 1750 and 1900, in which political and economical features were both modified
and preserved throughout this period. While the adeptness of the compelling European
producers continued to economically undermine the Ottoman Empire, the Ottoman state
changed through its reliance on foreign assistance to cultivate their economy. The
Ottoman military will fortify through the reform efforts of Mahmud II in the nineteenth
century. An additional change is the establishment of a Tanzimat reformers group that
advocated European legal ideas as a way to enhance the Ottoman state. However,
Ottoman lands will continue to be lost through warfare with neighboring governments.