Abstract: The Origins and Legacy o f Ottoman Greatness The death of Suleyman Magnificent in 1566 saw Ottoman Empire at apogee of its vigor and territory, stretching from Danube to Yemen, from Albania to Northern shores of Black Sea, and from Algeria to Baghdad. By middle of 16th century, Ottoman Empire was dominant Islamic state and major European, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Persian Gulf power. In 1055, Seljuk Turks--Turkoman nomads and military adventurers from Central Asia--forced Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad to recognize them as protectors of orthodox Sunni Islam and their leader as Sultan. Expansionists, they advanced into Eastern Anatolia and in 1071 won a decisive victory over Byzantines at Manzikert, establishing an Islamic presence in Anatolia that has lasted over 1,000 years. The Seljuks brought with them Turkoman tribe from which sprang Ottoman dynasty and empire. From 1299, Osman, Ottoman founder, began a policy of territorial expansion at expense of Byzantines, and over next two centuries Osman's successors consolidated their state, wearing down residual Byzantine power. In three campaigns Ottoman state transformed itself into an empire. In 1453, Sultan Mehmet II, the Conqueror, took Constantinople (hereafter called Istanbul), thereby giving Ottomans a strategic base from which to dominate Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean and thereby, to present day, controlling Russian access to Mediterranean. (1) The second campaign began as traditional regional and religious competition with Iranian Shiites. However, Selim I decided instead to confront and neutralize another regional rival, Mamluk Empire. The Ottoman armies easily defeated Mamluks and, with capture of Cairo in 1517, acquired most of classical heartland of Arab Islam. This success established Ottomans as supreme within community of Islam (the Ummah). Selim arrogated to himself title of Caliph and assumed responsibility for protection of Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina. In turn, his son, Suleyman Magnificent, added to this empire Hungary, Transylvania, Tripoli, Algiers, Iraq, Rhodes, Eastern Anatolia, part of Georgia, most important Aegean Islands, and Belgrade, from which base he besieged Vienna. In addition he turned Empire into a formidable naval power. This pre-eminent position lasted for over 200 years, until Ottoman power began to decline in middle of 18th century as internal structures of empire proved impervious to necessary reform, and growing military strength of European powers led to permanent territorial losses. The empire finally collapsed in 191 8 but memory of imperial greatness remained a significant element in psychology and actions of Republic of Turkey and of former territories of Empire. Despite antagonism between modern Turkey and former subjects, climax of Ottoman power would be recognized by Muslims as last time Islam dealt with on equal terms. The Ottomans and There was contact between Ottomans and from start, and Islamic basis of Ottoman power defined relationship with Western Europe as one of antagonism and conflict. However, defeat in Russian Wars of 1 768-1774, leading to first permanent loss of Muslim-held territory, changed dynamics of relationship. Defeat starkly demonstrated that Ottoman armies were no longer well enough organized, equipped, trained, or led to compete against contemporary Western armies. The conclusion drawn was that military competition with was only possible by adopting Western military methods and technology. This represented compromise of historical proportions, because close identification between West and Christianity made accommodation extremely difficult. The strains set up between those who advocated adoption of European techniques and those who viewed any dismantling of Islamic order as heresy should not be underestimated. …
Publication Year: 1997
Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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