M A I N
"There were many words you could not stand to hear and finally only the names of places had dignity. Abstract words such as glory, honor, courage, or hollow were obscene" -Ernest Hemingway, "A Farewell to Arms"
Militarism
Since the apex of the Ottoman Empire in the 1600s, Turkey failed to make territorial gains. It was pushed back and lost its lands instead. The Ottoman Empire was not modern enough to maintain an army that could compete with the European powers. It was dependent on foreign powers to support its military and prop up the country. Many European countries supported propping up the Ottoman Empire so there would not be a great amount of conflict regarding the Eastern Question. In order to strengthen its country, the Ottomans bought weapons and hired military advisers from foreign countries to fix the empire's military. The military was essential for the maintenance of the empire as nationalism spread. Its weak country led to many nationalist revolts being successful. This in turn increased the tension between Serbia and Austria-Hungary and eventually led to World War I.
Alliance System
First Bulgarian Crisis (1878):
In 1876, Bulgaria rebeled against the Ottoman Empire. Bulgaria receiveed support from Serbia, Montenegro, and Russia. This conflict evolved into full scale war between Russia and Turkey in 1877. The Russians won the war in 1878 and the Ottoman empire was forced to sign the Treat of San Stefano in 1878. They created a large Bulgaria from the Treaty of San Stefano. Bulgaria was given independence, Serbia and Romania received territory, and Austria-Hungary supervised reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The British and the Austrians believed that Russia had received too much power. A congress was held by Bismarck in Berlin in order to settle the dispute.
The Treaty of Berlin took apart the large Bulgaria created in the Treaty of San Stefano. Macedonia was returned to Turkey. a small autonomous Bulgaria, and an autonomous Rumelia were created. Serbia and Romania gained independence; Britain received Cyprus; and Austria got a protectorate over Bosnia.
Russia felt defeated at the congress and blamed Bismarck for its loss. This worsened Russo-German relations. This event led to the dissolution of the Three Emperor's League and the Re-Insurance Treaty and Russia sought to find new allies.
Bismarck's diplomacy had broken in the Balkans. His alliance based system was revealed to be ineffective in the Balkans. Germany could no longer be an ally to both Austria-Hungary and Russia. The Ottoman Empire was the breeding ground for the alliances between Austria-Hungary and Germany and Russia and France. Alliances were formed over the desires of Russians and the conflicting ones of Austria-Hungary.
Spurned by the Germans, Russia signed an alliance with France in 1894. Britain joined this alliance in 1906, creating the Triple Entente. Serbia, although not named in any treaties between these three Great Powers, was allied with Russia. Its alliance with Russia indirectly allied it with France and Britain as well.
Germany initially signed an alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1871, at the birth of the German Empire, creating what would later be called the 'Central Powers'. The alliance was renewed at every interval necessary until 1914. When war finally did break out, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers, since Germany had a strong military, and since joining the Triple Entente would be counterproductive to Ottoman goals. The Ottoman Empire desired to recapture lands taken from it by Serbia and Russia. As both of these countries were at least part of the Triple Entente, the Ottoman Empire likely would not have received the land it desired for its support.
In 1876, Bulgaria rebeled against the Ottoman Empire. Bulgaria receiveed support from Serbia, Montenegro, and Russia. This conflict evolved into full scale war between Russia and Turkey in 1877. The Russians won the war in 1878 and the Ottoman empire was forced to sign the Treat of San Stefano in 1878. They created a large Bulgaria from the Treaty of San Stefano. Bulgaria was given independence, Serbia and Romania received territory, and Austria-Hungary supervised reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The British and the Austrians believed that Russia had received too much power. A congress was held by Bismarck in Berlin in order to settle the dispute.
The Treaty of Berlin took apart the large Bulgaria created in the Treaty of San Stefano. Macedonia was returned to Turkey. a small autonomous Bulgaria, and an autonomous Rumelia were created. Serbia and Romania gained independence; Britain received Cyprus; and Austria got a protectorate over Bosnia.
Russia felt defeated at the congress and blamed Bismarck for its loss. This worsened Russo-German relations. This event led to the dissolution of the Three Emperor's League and the Re-Insurance Treaty and Russia sought to find new allies.
Bismarck's diplomacy had broken in the Balkans. His alliance based system was revealed to be ineffective in the Balkans. Germany could no longer be an ally to both Austria-Hungary and Russia. The Ottoman Empire was the breeding ground for the alliances between Austria-Hungary and Germany and Russia and France. Alliances were formed over the desires of Russians and the conflicting ones of Austria-Hungary.
Spurned by the Germans, Russia signed an alliance with France in 1894. Britain joined this alliance in 1906, creating the Triple Entente. Serbia, although not named in any treaties between these three Great Powers, was allied with Russia. Its alliance with Russia indirectly allied it with France and Britain as well.
Germany initially signed an alliance with Austria-Hungary in 1871, at the birth of the German Empire, creating what would later be called the 'Central Powers'. The alliance was renewed at every interval necessary until 1914. When war finally did break out, the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers, since Germany had a strong military, and since joining the Triple Entente would be counterproductive to Ottoman goals. The Ottoman Empire desired to recapture lands taken from it by Serbia and Russia. As both of these countries were at least part of the Triple Entente, the Ottoman Empire likely would not have received the land it desired for its support.
Imperialism
The Sick Man of Europe
The Ottoman Empire begun modernizing at the wrong time. Modern warfare allowed the Great Powers of Europe to create massive empires. Turkey was one of the few lands that was able to remain independent. The Ottoman Empire was militarily weak and at a great disadvantage to the imperialistic Great Powers of Europe. While the Great Powers pushed into the Ottoman Empire, seeking territory, the Ottomans were forced to fight wars to defend their country. They were forced to use their resources in defending their country instead of modernizing. When they were attacked by powerful countries such as Russia in the Bulgarian Crisis of 1878, the Ottomans lost lots of land. The Ottoman Empire had spent a plenitude of money to modernize their European holdings and more money to defend them, but they were lost along with all of Turkey's investment. The Ottoman Empire was forced to borrow money to modernize and defend themselves to the point where the interest on these loans was difficult to pay. The empire could not withstand the costs and force of European imperialism. Imperialism had weakened the Ottoman Empire. It was difficult for the Ottoman Empire to maintain its empire. The Eastern Question never seemed more relevant. Countries such as Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Serbia fought for their interests in the Ottoman Empire. This increased tensions and eventually led to the Great War.
The Ottoman Empire begun modernizing at the wrong time. Modern warfare allowed the Great Powers of Europe to create massive empires. Turkey was one of the few lands that was able to remain independent. The Ottoman Empire was militarily weak and at a great disadvantage to the imperialistic Great Powers of Europe. While the Great Powers pushed into the Ottoman Empire, seeking territory, the Ottomans were forced to fight wars to defend their country. They were forced to use their resources in defending their country instead of modernizing. When they were attacked by powerful countries such as Russia in the Bulgarian Crisis of 1878, the Ottomans lost lots of land. The Ottoman Empire had spent a plenitude of money to modernize their European holdings and more money to defend them, but they were lost along with all of Turkey's investment. The Ottoman Empire was forced to borrow money to modernize and defend themselves to the point where the interest on these loans was difficult to pay. The empire could not withstand the costs and force of European imperialism. Imperialism had weakened the Ottoman Empire. It was difficult for the Ottoman Empire to maintain its empire. The Eastern Question never seemed more relevant. Countries such as Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Serbia fought for their interests in the Ottoman Empire. This increased tensions and eventually led to the Great War.
Nationalism
Multicultural
The Ottoman Empire was vast. It stretched from "the Balkans and the Black Sea area, Anatolia, the Fertile Crescent, and northern Africa as far west as the borders of Morocco" (Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa). Before the rise of nationalism, most people of the Ottoman Empire thought that it was normal to be ruled from a distant capital. The nationalist movement in the Ottoman Empire began in the 1800s with the Christian people of the Balkans. The Christian people, who were in contact with the ideas of Europe, picked up the nationalism that was spreading across the continent in the Revolutions of 1848. They began to see themselves as "victims of Ottoman domination" (Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa). This nationalism spread to Arab groups over time. Nationalism caused many revolts and wars in the Ottoman Empire. The revolutions left the Ottoman Empire weaker and more vulnerable to imperialism as it lost both resources and land. Examples of these revolutions include the First Balkan War, Bulgarian Crisis, and other local revolutions that were put down after numerous concessions had been made.
Nationalism in the Balkans led to conflicts between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary wanted to preserve its position in the Balkans and did not want the sovereign Slavic states desired by the Russians. Bosnia-Herzegovina, part of Austria-Hungary (and before that a part of the Ottoman Empire), wanted to be part of Serbia. As more and more countries split from Turkey, this tension increased and burst into World War I.
The Ottoman Empire was vast. It stretched from "the Balkans and the Black Sea area, Anatolia, the Fertile Crescent, and northern Africa as far west as the borders of Morocco" (Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa). Before the rise of nationalism, most people of the Ottoman Empire thought that it was normal to be ruled from a distant capital. The nationalist movement in the Ottoman Empire began in the 1800s with the Christian people of the Balkans. The Christian people, who were in contact with the ideas of Europe, picked up the nationalism that was spreading across the continent in the Revolutions of 1848. They began to see themselves as "victims of Ottoman domination" (Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East and North Africa). This nationalism spread to Arab groups over time. Nationalism caused many revolts and wars in the Ottoman Empire. The revolutions left the Ottoman Empire weaker and more vulnerable to imperialism as it lost both resources and land. Examples of these revolutions include the First Balkan War, Bulgarian Crisis, and other local revolutions that were put down after numerous concessions had been made.
Nationalism in the Balkans led to conflicts between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary wanted to preserve its position in the Balkans and did not want the sovereign Slavic states desired by the Russians. Bosnia-Herzegovina, part of Austria-Hungary (and before that a part of the Ottoman Empire), wanted to be part of Serbia. As more and more countries split from Turkey, this tension increased and burst into World War I.