ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Knowledgia How did the Ottomans start to decline? – History of The Ottomans (1700 – 1800)
The 1700s were a transformative period for the Ottoman Empire, characterized by attempts at reform, adaptation, and frequent conflicts with European powers, especially Russia. Previously focused on expansion, the empire now faced internal challenges and the need to defend its territories from emerging powers. Throughout this century, the Ottoman sultans encountered new allies, adversaries, and obstacles.
At the dawn of the 18th century, Sultan Mustafa II was on the throne. He signed the Treaty of Constantinople in 1700, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1686. This treaty ceded Azov to Russia but promised 30 years of peace. However, Mustafa’s reign was soon disrupted by the Edirne event in 1703, sparked by the discontent of the Janissary corps. They were unhappy with Mustafa’s decision to return to Edirne instead of Constantinople after the Treaty of Karlowitz and his reliance on Feyzullah Efendi, whom they viewed as corrupt.
The Janissaries’ dissatisfaction grew when they were ordered to intervene in Georgia’s civil war without proper pay. Protests in Constantinople escalated into riots, leading to Mustafa’s deposition on August 22, 1703, and the assassination of Feyzullah Efendi. Mustafa’s brother, Ahmed III, took the throne, facing the task of quelling the unrest.
Once stability was restored in Constantinople, Sultan Ahmed III focused on foreign affairs. He improved relations with England and France and allied with Charles XII of Sweden. After Charles’ defeat by Russia in 1709, he sought refuge with the Ottomans, convincing Ahmed to declare war on Russia in 1710. Despite the Treaty of Constantinople, the Ottomans achieved a significant victory at the Pruth River.
Ahmed then turned his attention to Venice, declaring war in 1714 and capturing Morea. This victory alarmed Austria, leading to the Austro-Turkish War of 1716-1718. Despite initial Ottoman successes, the war ended with the Treaty of Passarowitz in 1718, which confirmed Ottoman gains in Morea but forced them to cede territories to Austria.
In 1724, the Ottomans and Russia attempted to partition Safavid Iran, but by 1730, the Ottomans were pushed out. This failure, coupled with economic struggles, led to a Janissary revolt led by Patrona Halil, resulting in Ahmed III’s deposition. His nephew, Mahmud I, ascended the throne and eventually quelled the rebellion.
During Mahmud’s reign, the Ottomans engaged in a fruitless war with Persia and faced renewed conflict with Russia. The Russo-Turkish War began in 1735, with Russia targeting Crimea. A plague outbreak paused the conflict, and the Treaty of Belgrade in 1739 ended the Austro-Turkish War, granting the Ottomans control over Serbia and parts of Banat.
After Sultan Mahmud’s death, Osman III took the throne but made few changes, aside from banning music in his palace. His successor, Mustafa III, focused on internal stability and external peace but faced another Russo-Turkish conflict in 1768, resulting in territorial losses for the Ottomans.
Sultan Abdul Hamid I prioritized military reforms, establishing the Imperial Naval Engineering School and strengthening control over key regions. Despite his efforts, the Ottomans were drawn into another war with Russia in 1787, struggling against the combined forces of Russia and Austria.
Selim III became sultan during this ongoing conflict. He ended the war and initiated significant reforms in taxation, land tenure, and governance. Selim also opened Ottoman embassies in Europe to improve relations with Western powers.
As the century ended, the Ottoman Empire faced a new challenge when Napoleon invaded Egypt. This led Sultan Selim to declare war on France and form an unexpected alliance with Great Britain and Russia, setting the stage for further changes in the next century.
The 18th century was a period of significant challenges and changes for the Ottoman Empire. Faced with internal strife and external threats, the empire struggled to maintain its power and influence. The reforms initiated during this time laid the groundwork for future transformations, as the Ottomans navigated the complex political landscape of the era.
Engage in a role-playing debate where you represent different factions within the Ottoman Empire, such as the Janissaries, reformist sultans, and traditionalists. Discuss the merits and drawbacks of the reforms initiated by sultans like Selim III. This will help you understand the internal dynamics and resistance to change within the empire.
Analyze historical maps to trace the territorial changes of the Ottoman Empire during the 18th century. Identify key battles and treaties, such as the Treaty of Passarowitz and the Treaty of Belgrade. This activity will enhance your understanding of the geopolitical challenges faced by the Ottomans.
Conduct a research project focusing on the diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and European powers like England, France, and Russia. Explore how these relationships influenced the empire’s foreign policy and military engagements. Present your findings in a class presentation.
Watch a documentary on the decline of the Ottoman Empire during the 18th century. After the screening, participate in a group discussion to analyze the factors contributing to the empire’s decline, including internal strife and external pressures. Reflect on how these factors are interconnected.
Write a fictional diary entry from the perspective of an Ottoman sultan during the 18th century. Describe the challenges faced, decisions made, and reflections on the empire’s future. This creative exercise will help you empathize with the historical figures and understand their perspectives.
The 1700s in the Ottoman Empire marked a time of reform, adaptation, and often conflict with European powers, most notably Russia. The empire, which had previously focused heavily on outward expansion, was now faced with internal issues and the need to defend its possessions from new expansionist powers. New allies, enemies, and challenges confronted the Ottoman sultans over the next century.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Sultan Mustafa II held the Ottoman throne. He signed the Treaty of Constantinople on July 13, 1700, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1686. This treaty ceded Azov to Russia but promised 30 years of peace between the empires. However, Sultan Mustafa was unable to enjoy this peace for long due to the Edirne event in 1703, which arose from the anger of the Janissary corps. They disapproved of his decision to return to Edirne rather than Constantinople after signing the Treaty of Karlowitz. Mustafa also left much political and administrative power to Feyzullah Efendi, who the Janissaries found to be corrupt and overbearing.
When the Ottomans decided to intervene in the civil war in Georgia, a unit of the Janissary corps was supposed to be sent to provide military presence. However, due to their existing displeasure and lack of proper salaries, protests began in Constantinople, quickly escalating to riots. After Feyzullah Efendi had the representatives of the rebels arrested, the Janissaries turned their sights toward Edirne. As the Sultan’s own soldiers joined the protesters, Mustafa was deposed on August 22, 1703, and Feyzullah Efendi was assassinated. Ahmed III, the brother of Mustafa II, seized the throne and faced the challenge of subduing the rebellious troops.
Constantinople remained in a state of unrest until the appointment of a new Grand Vizier, Ali Pasha. Once Sultan Ahmed could focus on foreign affairs, he began to improve relations with both England and France and formed a new alliance with Charles XII of Sweden. After the Swedish king’s defeat by Peter the Great of Russia at the Battle of Poltava in 1709, Charles sought refuge in the Ottoman court and convinced Sultan Ahmed to declare war on Russia in 1710. Despite the Treaty of Constantinople, which should have ensured peace, the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha led his troops to a decisive victory against Peter the Great’s forces at the Pruth River.
After dealing with Russia, Ahmed turned his attention to Venice, declaring war in December 1714. The Ottomans launched a coordinated naval and army effort to seize Morea the following year. News of the Turkish victory reached Austria, prompting intervention and starting the Austro-Turkish War of 1716-1718. Prince Eugene, the Habsburg general, led successful campaigns against the Ottomans. The war disrupted Dutch and British Mediterranean trade, and in 1718, Great Britain and Holland urged the Ottomans, Venetians, and Austrians to sign the Treaty of Passarowitz, ending the conflict and confirming Ottoman gains in Morea. However, Sultan Ahmed was forced to cede Belgrade, Little Wallachia, and Banat to Austria, complicating his empire’s westward expansion.
In June 1724, a treaty between Russia and the Ottomans aimed to partition their shared neighbor, Safavid Iran, but the Ottomans were effectively pushed out of the region by 1730. This failure, combined with anger over the Sultan’s lavish lifestyle during economic struggles, led to a Janissary mutiny led by Patrona Halil. Sultan Ahmed III was deposed and replaced by his nephew, Mahmud I, who faced the challenge of calming tensions in the empire. After about a year, Sultan Mahmud was able to end the rebellion with the execution of Halil and many of his supporters.
During Mahmud’s reign, he became embroiled in an ongoing war with Persia, which yielded no significant results, while also facing discord in Europe. The new Russo-Turkish War began in 1735 after Russia signed the Treaty of Ganja with Iran, forming an alliance against the Ottomans. The Russians targeted Crimea, capturing Ottoman fortresses, but a plague outbreak subdued all sides of the conflict from 1737 to 1739. Austria attempted to join the war against the Ottomans but faced repeated defeats and ultimately lost Belgrade. In 1739, the Treaty of Belgrade was signed, ending the Austro-Turkish War and granting the Ottomans the Kingdom of Serbia and parts of Banat, while Russia retained control of Azov.
Sultan Mohammed died of natural causes six years after peace was made with his European opponents and was succeeded by Osman III. Osman, who spent 51 years in captivity after his father’s deposition, made few significant changes during his reign, notably banning music and musicians from his palace. However, he did issue a firman in 1757 that preserved the division of responsibilities for various holy land sites among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Osman passed away on October 30, leaving the throne to Mustafa III.
Mustafa III aimed to create more stability within the empire, focusing on issues like coinage and internal affairs while traveling to enforce his laws. Externally, he sought to maintain peace with Europe, but tensions with Russia escalated, leading to another Russo-Turkish conflict in 1768. This war resulted in an embarrassing defeat for the Ottomans, who were forced to cede territory and allow the Russians to act as protectors of Orthodox Christianity in the Ottoman vassal states of Wallachia and Moldavia by 1774. Although a treaty was signed in July, Sultan Mustafa III had died of a heart attack in January, so the resolution occurred under Abdul Hamid I.
One of Sultan Abdul Hamid’s priorities was to reform the Janissary corps and the Ottoman armed forces. He established the Imperial Naval Engineering School and focused on strengthening control over Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. Despite not prioritizing Russia, he was drawn back into conflict in 1787 due to Russian abuses of power. The Ottomans initially held their ground, but with Austria backing Russia, they began to struggle. Sultan Abdul Hamid died in April 1789.
Selim III ascended the throne during the ongoing war with Russia. He agreed to end the conflict, despite the Russians’ ultimate success. Once the foreign conflict was settled, Selim established a committee of reformers and initiated reforms related to taxation, land tenure, and provincial governance, continuing military reforms. He also opened Ottoman embassies in European capitals to improve relations with the West.
As the century closed, the Ottoman Empire faced an unexpected twist when Napoleon invaded Egypt. Sultan Selim was forced to declare war on France and unexpectedly allied with Great Britain and Russia. This new conflict would continue into the next century, marking another era of significant change for the Ottoman Empire.
In future episodes, we will cover the next chapters of Ottoman history, so be sure to subscribe to our channel and press the bell button to be notified when a new video is uploaded. See you next time!
Ottoman – Relating to the Ottoman Empire, a historical empire founded at the end of the 13th century in northwestern Anatolia by the Turkish tribal leader Osman I. – The Ottoman architectural style is evident in many historical buildings across the Balkans and the Middle East.
Empire – A group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government, usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom. – The Roman Empire was known for its extensive road networks and advanced engineering techniques.
Reform – The improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, or unsatisfactory, often in a political or social context. – The Meiji Restoration in Japan was a period of rapid reform that transformed the country into a modern industrialized nation.
Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one, often involving states or large groups of people. – The Thirty Years’ War was a significant conflict in Europe that had lasting impacts on the continent’s political landscape.
Treaty – A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries. – The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations on Germany.
Janissary – A member of the elite infantry units that formed the Ottoman Sultan’s household troops and bodyguards. – The Janissaries were known for their military prowess and played a crucial role in the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.
Foreign – Relating to or derived from another country or nation; not native. – Foreign influence in China during the 19th century led to significant social and economic changes.
Relations – The way in which two or more countries, organizations, or people behave towards and deal with each other. – Diplomatic relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were tense during the Cold War.
Internal – Existing or situated within the limits or surface of something, often referring to domestic affairs within a country. – Internal reforms were necessary to stabilize the economy and improve the quality of life for citizens.
Strife – Angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict. – The period of internal strife in England, known as the Wars of the Roses, was marked by a series of dynastic conflicts.
