The Ottoman Empire: Change/Time

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Ottoman Empire OE) established itself as the most powerful Islamic empire in the world, perhaps one of the most powerful empires throughout the globe. Although it allowed opportunities for diversity, it stuck to Islamic customs and traditions and implemented them into government structure, Ottoman culture, and society overall. These Islamic inputs included jizya (tax on non-muslims)  and caliphs (religious provincial rulers).

However, as we have read and observed, the OE's reputation, government, and overall culture had drastically altered by the 19th and 20th centuries. As European nations (mainly England, Russia, and France) spread their influence across the globe, the OE soon became exposed to "western" styles of life. This exposure inevitably affected the OE, evidently. Ottoman government soon took the shape of that of British structure, centralizing government power yet distributing representation to several bureaus. Western clothing soon became known throughout the OE. Schools became increasingly secular. Most importantly, women gained access to equal rights, which clearly opposed the traditional values of Islam. These numerous modifications in Ottoman culture changed the OE's identity: what is the OE exactly? Through abolishing many of its Islamic methodologies, it destructed its own reputation as a strong Islamic nation. The OE also belonged to three continents, a geographic circumstance that made national unity almost impossible. European influence led to internal exposure within the OE. As citizens became more secular-thinking, new ideas and cultures perhaps developed within the OE, creating no sense of nationalism for the OE as a whole. This theory may explain why the OE no longer exists: numerous cases of internal nationalism essentially split the OE apart into separate states. 

Ottoman Empire in the 16th Century vs. 19th Century

In order to keep up with the modernization and nationalism of the rest of the world, the Ottoman Empire attempted to do the same but in a futile effort. As European countries invaded and took over territories that were part of the ottoman empire, like Egypt. As their land area shrunk, so did their power, and therefore their trading also declined. So, the Ottomans needed to improve themselves within. The Ottomans tried to create a national identity for themselves but were not able to because of the vast majority of cultures in the empire, and an increase of non Muslims. The government wanted a more Muslim identity but that clashed with the views of the people. This is what caused the finished the decline of the once great Ottoman Empire, the loss of power through conquest, and opposing viewpoints between the people and the government. Before, the Ottoman Empire was a Muslim nation that was tolerant of other religions, and the people were predominantly Muslim. The government wanted to maintain their Islamic values, but the people were a lot more secular and less willing to adapt to Islamic culture. The Ottoman empire encompassed numerous cultures, but while other countries were finding their cultural identity, the Ottoman empire could not do so because they didn't have one. This shows more about how empires do not succeed in the 20th century because of the wave of nationalism going around the world. If everyone else had not been so caught up in nationalism, then the Ottoman Empire along with other empires like the British empire, still might be powerful today.

Ottomans: Loss of Religious Identity

The Ottoman empire in the 16th centuries was different from the Ottoman empire in the 20th century mainly because the 16th century empire was a Muslim empire, and therefore it had religious identity. Over the course of these years between the 16th and 20th centuries, the Ottoman empire experienced a lot of ups and downs as they tried to balance their religious identity with keeping up with the rest of the world. The Ottoman empire began to fall because Europe was able to chip away at it. However, once the Ottomans allowed foreigners into their country they made a small comeback. People began to recognize the Ottomans as a place of equality for all religions. This was extremely different from the 16th century empire, where Islam was clearly the superior religion. Now there was more trade and more ideas. Unfortunately, once the Ottoman empire became a place of religious diversity, it began to lose it's identity. The Janissaries that used to hold a lot of power during the 16th century began to lose their authority. In 1876 for a short time, a group known as the Young Ottomans imitated the European constitution. Power had fallen from the emperor to smaller groups like this. However, this did not last long, and Abd al-Hamid came to power to bring back the old ways, where the sultan controlled everything.

As one would expect, this old idea of complete absolute power didn't work. With the growing power of democracies in Europe, it was clear that the system of government the Ottoman Empire tried in the 16th century, with one sultan controlling everything, was not going to be successful with the way the world was working now. Finally, a group known as Young Turks began to transform the Ottoman empire into a nation like that of Europe. As they rose to power, the Ottomans became more and more westernized. Elections were held, polygamy became illegal and divorces legal, there were schools for women and overall more equality for women. None of these things existed in the 16th century, and it was clearly for the better that they came to be.

After the Ottoman empire fell to a Turkish nation after World War I, it was clear that in a constantly changing world, the ways of the 16th century just would not be successful in the 20th century.

The Young and Old Ottoman Empire

Religion played a key role in the rise and fall of the Ottoman Empire. In the 16th and 17th centuries the empire was seen as the center of Islam. It was dominated by Muslims, but it allowed for other religions to live under them. It was this open attitude that ultimately led to their downfall. By losing the Muslim superiority they lost their religious identity which was the glue that held such an enormous nation together. The younger generations wanted to base their system off more westernized ideas and equality between religions. The Muslim power became diluted and power fell from it's the central ruler to more local and smaller leaders. They tried to reunite and bring back the old Muslim supremacy, but they ultimately failed. Once there was equality among the different religions the younger generations would not fold back into the past ideals. They began to advocate for a Turkish nation rather than an Islamic nation. The empire crumbled from a lack of unification and European dominance.

Young Ottoman v.s. Old Ottoman

The Ottoman Empire in the 16th and 17th century went through great change in the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and 20th century. One thing that changed was the diversity of the state. In the past they had a more muslim established state but they would go on to have Turkish people and mostly non-muslims. Because of this change in diversity they were able to set laws and principles that were not muslim based. Along with these changes in principles was the influence of western knowledge. While the "Young Ottomans" focused on the influence of western knowledge, the "Young Turks" would start a reform that would eventually allow the state to become a democratic state. Overall since their plummet in the 17th century the Ottoman empire has turned their approach to governing they have flourished and become a better ran state.