Ottoman Empire

The decline of the Ottoman Empire would create opportunity for the European Great Powers: Austria, Russia, France, and Great Britain. These nations would both support and diminish the Ottoman Empire, both for economic gain and to thwart the ambitions of the others. The manipulation of the Middle East would reflect the rivalry of the European nations over power and economic advantage. The death throes of the Ottoman would take nearly two centuries as the powers of Europe squabbled over the pieces of the declining empire. Russia’s interest in the Ottomans stemmed from a need for a warm water port for trade and defense; however, access to the Black Sea required control of lands belonging to the Ottomans. The straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles flanked the passage to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Another prize of the region, Istanbul held prestige with the Eastern Orthodox Christians many of whom lived in Russia (Goldschmidt 141). In fact, Russia would become the diplomatic patrons of the Eastern Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire. Between 1806 and 1878, Russia troops entered the Balkans five times. The aggressive policies of Russia would be thwarted by the efforts of the other European powers to protect the fragile balance of power between them (Goldschmidt 142). Russia’s chief rival for possession of the
Balkan states would be Habsburg Austria. Also seeking a port of the Black Sea, Austria offered patronage and trade deals to Balkan states recently freed for Ottoman control. However, the price of Austria’s support a thirty year military occupation, would result in the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Conflict with the neighboring Serbia would lead the death of the Austria heir and the First World War (Goldschmidt 144). The shared interest of Russia and Austria in the Balkans resulted from a desire for access to the Black Sea and the trade routes it opened for their respective nations. The ambition of Russia did not pass unnoticed by Great Britain. Britain worried that an expanded Russian state would become too powerful and endanger the balance of Europe. This concern led Britain to challenge Russia’s expansion into the Balkans. Additionally, the British supported the Ottomans to gain shorter safer routes to India. Britain believed the Ottomans could protect British trade routes through the Fertile Crescent into India. With a wary eye on Russia, Britain turned its attention France’s territories the Middle East and North Africa. (Goldschmidt 144-145).
France shifted its interest to influence peddling rather than open control. Ottoman scholars studied in French colleges, Christian merchants and missionaries build a network of Christian churches, schools, factories, and trading post within the Ottoman Empire. While its networks in the Ottoman Empire benefited France, control of Egypt was of greater importance and would cause conflict with Britain and Turkey, the name given to the Ottomans by the Europeans. The combined might of Britain and Turkey’s military and diplomacy efforts final French troops out of Egypt. Yet, the withdrawal of the French allowed for a military adventurer, Mehmet Ali, to take control of Egypt. Mehmet took Syria from the Ottomans; however, Britain believing him a French agent expelled him for Syria. Mehmet Ali returned to rule Egypt and founded a dynasty that would survive until 1952 (Goldschmidt 145-146).
Without the influence of Europe and its concern for balance the Ottoman Empire would have fallen sooner.
The greed of France and Britain supported the Ottomans after the empire had fallen into disrepair; conversely, the expansionist ambitions or Austria and Russia slowly chewed away Ottoman territories. Supported and protected by France and Britain the Ottomans survived the ambition of Austria and Russian for nearly two centuries, conversely, the rivalry and greed of these same European powers would ultimately destroy the Ottoman Empire. From the ashes of the Ottoman Empire new nations would rise in the Middle East, and lost kingdoms would
return.