Study Guide for Quiz on the Ottoman Empire
THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
The Ottomans were originally Seljuk Turks from Iran, Iraq regions of the Middle East.
They were driven from their homelands by the Mongols and settled in Anatolia modern day Turkey.
Around 1300 a Turkish Muslim chief named Osman began conquering Christian lands in
Anatolia.
Osman and his followers, who became known as Ottomans, expanded the frontiers of
Islam and established a powerful empire starting in Anatolia and spreading.
The Ottoman Empire at Its Height
Sultan Mohammed II, also known as “The Conqueror” captured Constantinople in 1453.
He renamed the city Istanbul and made it the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
The fall of Constantinople was a great shock to Europe. Constantinople was the greatest
Christian Capital of the biggest empire at the time. All Europe and the known world had new
respect and fear of the new Ottoman Empire.
The Ottoman Empire reached new heights of power and culture under Suleiman “The
Magnificent”, who ruled from 1520 to 1566.
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He Introduced new laws, government system, and was a great patron of the arts
and culture
He also expanded the Empire to the Balkans (Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary,
Yugoslavia), Iraq, Eastern Arabian Gulf, North and East Africa.
While many surrounding empires persecuted minorities, the Islamic Ottoman Empire was
tolerant of everybody – therefore attracted many skilled and talented people.
The Ottomans rewarded and promoted the best people and best fighters to leadership
positions. They selected and trained the best people from their territories to run their
government. Unlike other rulers who relied on birth and family for promotion regardless of
abilities
This diversity was a strength in the beginning but became a weakness later.
The Ottomans held and consolidated a unified Muslim empire for over 500 years
Peace within the Empire allowed the Ottomans to put their energy on expanding the Empire.
Decline of the Ottoman Empire
After Suleiman “The Magnificent” died, the Ottoman Empire began to decline, losing territory
and military power over a 350-year period.
There were leadership and succession problems
Sultans habitually assassinated their sons and brothers who challenged them to become Sultans
– this left only weaker and incompetent and paranoid leaders.
Sultans became scared of assassination and withdrew into their palaces – losing touch with
events
The old trade route through the Ottoman territory became less important as a new sea route
around Africa took its place
The sultans lost control over the powerful ministers and generals who had other ethnic
nationalities and backgrounds – the diversity that was a strength at the beginning is now
dividing the Empire
There was a lot of corruption, internal disputes, and disinterest
Growing European powers were interested in Middle East region for strategic location and
natural resources
Between 1830 and 1912 European countries began to take control of many of the Ottoman
lands – all West Europe and North Africa were conquered by Europeans
By the start of World War One in 1914 the Ottoman Empire was reduced to the size of modern
day Turkey
The Ottomans supported Germany in World War One, made enemies with the rest of Europe.
When Germany lost, the victorious allies Britain and France divided the rest of the Ottoman
Empire between them (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and the rest of the Middle East).
Treaty of Lausanne (1923) formally ended the Ottoman Empire and established the modern
state of Turkey.
DEFINITIONS
Patron: a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, or cause.
Persecuted: subject (someone) to hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of their race or
political or religious beliefs.
Diverse / Diversity: showing a great deal of variety; very different
Ethnic: the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural
tradition
Pragmatic: dealing with things sensibly and realistically
Consolidate: make (something) physically stronger or more solid
Decline: become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.
Succession: the action or process of inheriting a title, office, property, etc
Incompetent: not having or showing the necessary skills to do something successfully
Paranoid: unreasonably or obsessively anxious, suspicious, or mistrustful
Strategic: relating to the gaining of overall or long-term military advantage
Treaty: an official agreement between states