What happened when the Ottoman Empire weakened?
1 Answer
The ebb of Ottoman strength can be traced over 235 years between 1683 and 1918; it allowed some European peoples to assert their independence but encouraged opportunism.
Explanation:
The Turkish Army that advanced on Vienna in 1683 was experienced, well-armed and professional... the defeated army that then withdrew had demonstrated that its technique and technology had lagged behind that of the Europeans.
In the next 17 years, Hungary was restored to the Hapsburgs.
By 1750, the Turks had just managed to fend off the Austrians and Russians (and the Venetians).
By 1800; Russian and Austrian influence had grown in the Balkans and southern Ukraine, and Turkey had lost more territory and had barely retained Egypt after the Mameluke rebellion.
By 1850, the backwardness of Turkey's institutions was too apparent (particularly after the 1827 naval battle of Navarino). The Egyptians and Greeks had gained their independence, and nationalism was stirring elsewhere in the Balkans; particularly with the Serbs.
By 1900, the Ottoman's strength had failed them and the Great Powers of Europe had clashed (in the Crimean War particularly) over who would 'protect' Turkey from the ambitions of others. Montenegro, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria had emerged.
In the years before the First World War, even minor powers could strip territory from Turkey. The Bulgarians, Greeks and Serbs did so in the First Balkan War (and then squabbled over the spoils in the Second); while Italy pounced on Libya and took Rhodes.
With the aftermath of WW-1, Britain and France took up custody of what remained of the Ottoman Empire outside of Turkey, but let Greece -- unsuccessfully -- attempt to seize Western Anatolia. That final insult brought on the revival of Turkish nationalism and raised Kamal Ataturk to power.
