LECTURE 10. THE CLIMAX OF TRADITIONALISTIC REFORM, 1703-1792
1. Continued Ottoman decline in the 18 th
century. Decay of Ottoman institutions, rise of provincial
notables-hayduks, mountain rebels, derebeys, Mamluks.
2. Breakdown of Ottoman Iron Curtain. Channels of contact
with Europe:
Battlefield defeats; Ottoman representatives in Europe; Europeans
in Ottoman Empire; Role of Jeunes ales Langues, Orientalists; Ottoman
non-Muslim minorities: Jews, Armenians, Greeks.
3. The Tulip Period (1716-1730). Grand
Vezir Damad Ibrahim diverts Sultan Ahmed III with Sa'adabad Palace on Golden
Horn. Imitation of European palaces, arts, ways of life. Introduction of
Ottoman language printing press by Ibrahim Muteferrika. Bonneval (Humbaraci
Ahmed Pasha) establishes modem Artillery Corps. Ottomans willing to accept
modem military institutions while retaining other traditional Ottoman institutions
and ways of life.
4. Eighteenth Century reformers. Baron
de Tott. Sultans Mustafa 111 (1757-1774) and Abdulhamid I (1774-1789).
Gazi Hasan escapes Battle of Cesme reforms Ottoman navy.
5. Sultan Selim III (1789-1808). As
prince confined in Topkapi Sarayi palace, outside contacts through Dr.
Lorenzo and Ishak Bey. Ishak Bey sent to France (1786). Selim starts reforms
after war with Russia ends (1792). Reform advisory committee includes D'Ohsson,
Ebubekir Ratib Efendi. Tatarcik Ataullah Efendi. Selim establishes 'New
Order' army (Nizam-I Cedid) and Treasury (Irad-I Cedia). Impact
of French Revolution ideas. Reforms failed: Internal opposition by traditional
bureaucracy; Selim fails to support, defend reformers. Incompetence of
European officers sent to help Ottomans. Traditional Ottoman ideas of superiority
over infidels. Financial and economic difficulties. Napoleon's invasion
of Egypt and Syria forces Selim into war alliance with Britain and Russia.
Janissary revolt (1808) kills Selim, ends reforms.
Bibliography: Stanford J. Shaw, Between Old and New:
The Ottoman Empire under Sultan Selim III, 1789-1807 (Cambridge,
Mass., Harvard University Press, 197 1)