Ottoman Empire who?

The Ottoman Empire went from being one of the most powerful empires around to one that doesn't even exist. How did this happen? That is the question. The Ottomans decline was started by the developing nationalism throughout the empire as well as European infuence.

In the first half of the 19th century, they fought off European invaders, and became even more strictly Muslim. In Sumatra, Islamic traditions were being reinforced (so women had to wear veils, and men had to wear traditional Arab dress.) This contributed to them resisting the Dutch penetration. In the Caucasus regions of Chechnya and Dagenstan, Muslims set up jihads to counter Russian intrusion. When France invaded Algeria, Muslims started a resistance movement, and efforts were made to create an Islamic state. The people in these sections of the Ottoman empire began to unify themselves.

During the Tanzimat reform in the second half of the 19th century, a group of people with a Western-style education, including lower-level officials, military officers, writers, poets, and journalists, came together, and were called the "Young Ottomans." These individuals encouraged Western influence.

When Sultan Abd al-Hamid established his strict rule, there was much opposition amongst military and civilian elites, called the Young Turks. They thought of a secular government, which was revolutionary at the time. They also began to think of themselves as a Turkish national state. The Young Turks took power in 1908, and secularized schools and courts, allowed for elections, made laws for people of all religions, and strongly pushed for Turkish to be the main language. They also advanced women's rights. They opened schools for women, and allowed them to dress in Western style clothing. They even allowed some women to get divorces. Religion became less a part of the government and more a personal matter.

The Ottoman Empire went from the strongest empire around in the 16th and 17th centuries to being split up in many different countries. Religion went from being the main factor in the government to being a personal matter. Women's right also took leaping steps forward, and they earned more rights and respect.