Firs part link- https://read.cash/@topu.s71/there-are-some-obvious-reasons-for-the-fall-of-the-ottoman-empire-be91f35d

In the first episode we learned some of the reasons for the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Today we will know some more reasons.

Agricultural economy

In the fifteenth century, the economy of the Ottoman Empire was more prosperous than any other region of the world. Their economy was dependent on agriculture. However, their business style was very similar to that of the Venetian traders. Although the Ottomans made unprecedented progress in agriculture, Europe and the British changed the outline of the world economy. However, the Industrial Revolution took place in Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Then Europe began to become industrialist by capitalizing on agricultural commodities.

At one stage, industry became the main tool of their livelihood and trade. At the same time, the Ottoman sultans, on the other hand, had only focused on education. But their education system was still not dependent on engineering. As a result, there is a shortage of adequate manpower to work in the industry. Due to this, the Ottoman Empire did not indirectly touch the Industrial Revolution even though it was close to Europe.

According to Michael Reynolds, a professor at Princeton University, other cities in the empire, including Istanbul, lacked the necessary equipment and experienced manpower to set up factories. As a result, agricultural products had to be shipped to Russia, France and Britain, and various products had to be produced and brought back. As a result, instead of economic growth, spending doubled. The condition of the Ottomans during the First World War was so bad that they lost the ability to build railways to transport war equipment, food and iron ore.

Changes in global politics

The rise of democracy is responsible for the collapse of almost all empires in the world. In the 1890s, the British were forced to leave faraway America only for the sake of democratic Americans. The Ottomans were no exception. In addition to present-day Turkey, the Ottomans included Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, and Palestine. Macedonia, Romania, Syria, and parts of Africa were also under Ottoman rule. Professor Reynolds, after a long study of the Ottomans, said that the rise of democracy in the politics of various neighboring countries, in addition to the imperial countries, had an impact on those countries as well. Also, due to the homogeneous social system, various democratic organizations were secretly formed in some countries. This led to revolts in several countries. In the 180's, the Ottomans were forced to return independence to several other countries, including Bulgaria. They were then forced to leave the rest of Europe because of their defeat in the Balkan Wars, which lasted from 1912 to 1913.

Deliberate hostility of the European powers

Although the Industrial Revolution brought innovation to the European economy, their colonies in different regions continued to decline day by day. At one time the British, French and Russian Tsarist dynasties lost large empires and were forced to establish democratic rule in only certain territories. But even then the Ottomans did not completely withdraw themselves. Rather, the sultans of the time displayed their superiority by creating economic and political instability with the Europeans. In this way, the powerful countries of Europe got involved in conflict with the Ottomans.

Eugenie Rogan, director of the Middle East Center at St. Antonio College, thinks European countries have shown direct support for the countries that gained independence from the Ottomans in the late nineteenth century. Russia and Austria directly supported nationalists in the Balkan Wars. Britain and France, on the other hand, wanted to establish colonies in Ottoman-controlled Middle Eastern and African countries. This implies that indirectly European powers supported the Ottoman sultans.

Destructive rivalry with Russia

Muslims also lived in Tsarist Russia. An analysis of the surrounding political environment shows that in the past, the Ottoman sultans considered the Russian Empire as their rival. Professor Reynolds agreed. The battle between the two empires was one of the highlights of World War II. Although both sides took a confrontational stance, in fact, Russia was in a bit of trouble.

Because the Ottomans could have cut off all supply routes from Europe if they wanted to. They laid siege to the Black Sea and set out to defeat Russia. Realizing the desired defeat, then-Tsar Nicholas II negotiated a peace treaty with the Ottomans. Some historians believe that through this treaty Russia was able to defend its empire.

Wrong decision in the First World War

Before the start of World War II, the Ottoman Sultan made a secret treaty with Germany. In this way, they were on the side of Germany for a long time during the war. From 1915 to 1917, the Ottoman army fought a bloody battle to defend the city of Constantinople (Istanbul) while fighting for the Allies. It killed about 500,000 Ottoman soldiers and wounded 3.6 million. The Ottomans then withdrew from the war in 1917 through an arms deal with Great Britain.

Even after World War I, many countries in the empire wanted the Ottomans to continue to rule. However, there was a strong possibility of establishing a federal government before the war and running the empire. In fact, the world war became the biggest obstacle in this way. Since the Ottomans were defeated, most of the victorious part voted in favor of partition. In this way, the process of establishing the federal government failed. At the same time, in a very short period of time, the Ottoman Empire was reduced to small pieces and completely destroyed.