Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More - The Ottoman Empire

Starting point is 00:00:00 One of the most important empires in history was the Ottoman Empire. It wasn't the biggest empire, but it had an outside impact on the world due to its strategic location and its moment in history. The Ottoman shocked the world by capturing the city of Constantinople and later almost conquered much of Central Europe. But despite having a good 600-year run, as with all empires, it eventually weakened and collapsed. Learn more about the Ottoman Empire, its rise, and its fall.

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Starting point is 00:01:03 we explore the fever dreams that suck friends, family, and wellness gurus down the right-wing cult spiral in a search for salvation. I've mentioned the Ottoman Empire in many, many episodes. However, I realized that I had never actually done an episode on the Ottoman Empire. I figured it was time to rectify that by giving the Ottomans their own episode. The Ottomans were a Turkish empire. The Turks were not native to the region that is now Turkey. The Turks who now live in Turkey are just one of several groups of a larger Turkic ethnicity.

Starting point is 00:01:43 This includes people who today live in Central Asia, Russia, Iran, and other countries in region. Beginning around the 8th to 10th centuries, various Turkic groups began moving southwards towards the Islamic world in the Middle East. The most important for the history of Anatolia were the Oghuz Turks, a large confederation whose western branch, often called the Turkmen, migrated into Iran, the Caucasus, and eventually Anatolia. The Ottoman Empire's origins traced back to the late 13th century when Osman I, a Turkish tribal leader, established a small principality in North Western Anatolia around the year 1299. Operating in the power vacuum created by the declining Seljuk Sultanate of Rheum

Starting point is 00:02:25 and the weakening Byzantine Empire, Osman and his successors gradually expanded their territory through a combination of military conquest and strategic alliances. The early Ottomans attracted warriors and settlers by offering land and opportunities for plunder, creating a dynamic frontier society that proved remarkably effective at expansion. Osmond's son Orhan continued this expansion, capturing the important Byzantine city of Bursa in 1326, which became the first Ottoman capital. The Ottomans crossed into Europe in the 1350s, establishing a foothold in the Balkans that would prove pivotal to their future success. This European expansion was facilitated by the civil wars and political fragmentation plaguing the Byzantine Empire and the Balkan states.

Starting point is 00:03:09 The 14th and 15th centuries marked a period of dramatic Ottoman expansion. Moured I, who ruled from 1362 to 1389, transformed the Ottoman state from a frontier state into a formidable empire. He established the Jassanari Corps, an elite military unit composed of Christian boys converted to Islam through the Devshrami system, which became the backbone of Ottoman military power for centuries. The Battle of Kosovo in 1889 secured Ottoman dominance over the Balkans, even though Murad I was killed in the conflict. The Devsharmi system is a fascinating system of governments and will be the subject of a future

Starting point is 00:03:47 episode. The empire faced a severe crisis during the reign of Bazid I, when the Central Asian conqueror Timor defeated the Ottomans at the Battle of Ankara in 1402, capturing Bazid and temporarily fragmenting Ottoman territories among his sons. This period lasted until 1403 when Mehmet I first reunified the empire, followed by Moured the Second who continued the consolidation and expansion. The conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Mehmet II, known thereafter as Membett the Conqueror, represents perhaps the most significant moment in Ottoman history. The fall of the ancient city, the former capital of the Byzantine Empire,

Starting point is 00:04:26 for over a thousand years, sent shockwaves throughout Europe in the Islamic world. Mbitt transformed Constantinople into the new Ottoman capital. The conquest gave the Ottomans control over crucial trade routes and established themselves as the premier power in the eastern Mediterranean. The empire reached its greatest extent in power during the 16th century under Selim I and Suleimang the Magnificent. Selim I, who ruled from 1512 to 1520, dramatically expanded Ottoman territory by conquering the Mameluk Sultanate, bringing Syria, Egypt, and the Hajaz under Ottoman rule. This conquest gave the Ottomans control over the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, allowing the Sultan to claim the title of Caliph and protector of Islam's most sacred

Starting point is 00:05:10 sites, significantly enhancing Ottoman prestige throughout the Muslim world. Suleiman I, who reigned from 1520 to 1566, presided over the Empire's golden age. His military campaigns extended Ottoman control deep into Europe, culminating in the 1529 siege of Vienna, which brought the empire to the gates of Central Europe. In the east, he conquered Baghdad and a bunch of Iraq from the Safavut. ofid Persians. Under Sulamane's rule, the Ottoman Empire controlled approximately three million square kilometers and was home to perhaps 30 million people, making it one of the world's most populous states at the time. Beyond military achievements, Sulemaine's reign witnessed remarkable

Starting point is 00:05:52 culture and administrative accomplishments. Known in Turkish as the lawgiver, Sulemaine reformed and codified Islamic law, creating a comprehensive legal system that balanced Islamic Sharia law with customary law and imperial decrees. The arts flourished during this period with magnificent architectural achievements, including the works of the great architect Mimar Sinan, whose mosques and other structures remained masterpieces of Islamic architecture. The Ottoman Empire developed a sophisticated administrative system that enabled it to govern its vast diverse territories effectively for centuries.

Starting point is 00:06:26 At the top stood the Sultan, who wielded absolute authority in theory, though in practice his power was mediated through complex bureaucratic structures and political realities. The Imperial Council, known as the Devon, served as the primary governing body headed by the Grand Vizier, who functioned as the Sultan's chief minister. The empire was divided in the provinces, or I-A-A-Lates, later reorganized into Vialates, which were governed by officials appointed by the central government. This system balanced centralized authority with local autonomy, allowing the empire to incorporate diverse populations and territories while maintaining overall control.

Starting point is 00:07:03 The Ottomans generally practiced religious tolerance, organizing their empire along the Millet system, which granted religious communities considerable autonomy in managing their internal affairs, education, and legal matters according to their own laws. This was actually really important, because while the Ottoman Empire was ruled by Turks, most of its subjects were not. They were a collection of Greeks, Bulgars, Arabs, Armenians, Berbers, and many other people.

Starting point is 00:07:30 A problem started to arise just when the empire was hitting its peak. The Ottomans did not follow strict primogenitor. Any male relative, a son or sometimes even a brother of the Sultan, could claim the throne. In the 14th and 15th centuries, this caused repeated civil wars

Starting point is 00:07:48 as rival princes fought for power. To stop this, Memet II implemented a very simple solution. Kill your brothers. He literally legalized Fratricide, quote, for the order of the world, and several sultans used it. Mimitt III famously had 19 brothers killed in 1595. By the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Fratricide became unpopular in the old system of training princes as provincial governors was collapsing. Governors gained experience, but also became dangerous political actors, and factions at court preferred more controllable heirs.

Starting point is 00:08:27 From the early 17th century onward, princes were confined to palace quarters in Istanbul. It was comfortable, but restrictive, preventing them from building power bases or gaining real experience. This system ended civil wars, but it often produced inexperienced and poorly prepared sultans who had spent decades in isolation before unexpectedly inheriting the throne. The Ottoman Empire's strategic position astride major trade routes between East and West made it a crucial hub of international commerce. The Empire controlled the traditional overland routes connecting Europe with Asia and the Middle East along the Silk Road, as well as important maritime routes in the Mediterranean and Red Sea.

Starting point is 00:09:08 Ottoman merchants traded in spice, textiles, precious metals, and countless other commodities, connecting markets from Morocco to Persia and from the Arabian Peninsula to the Balkans. The discovery of new maritime routes to Asia by European powers in the late 15th and 16th centuries began to undermine the Ottoman monopoly and East-West trade, though the Empire remained economically important. Ottoman cities like Istanbul, Cairo, Damascus, and Baghdad flourished as commercial centers, home to bustling markets and workshops. The Empire's agricultural economy supported this commercial activity, with regions producing diverse crops such as grain, cotton, and tobacco.

Starting point is 00:09:45 Ottoman civilization produced remarkable cultural and intellectual achievements that blended Turkish, Persian, Arabic, and Byzantine influences into a distinctive style. Ottoman literature developed a rich tradition, particularly in Ottoman Turkish, which incorporated extensive Persian and Arabic vocabulary and literary forms. Poetry flourished at the Imperial Court and among the broader educated classes, with poets like Fuzuli and Baki producing works that remain celebrated in Turkish literature. today. Isnik pottery, with its distinctive blue and white designs, became renowned throughout Europe and the Islamic world. Islamic carpets and textiles were prized luxury goods, while calligraphy served not only religious purposes, but also a highly developed art form. The empire's relative decline began gradually in the 17th century, although it remained a major power. The failed siege of Vienna in 1883 marked a turning point, followed by a series of military defeats that resulted in significant

Starting point is 00:10:45 territorial losses in Europe. The Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699 represented the first time the Ottoman signed a treaty as the defeated party, seating substantial territories to Austria and other European powers. Throughout the 18th century, the Empire faced mounting challenges from European powers who were modernizing their militaries and economies. Russia emerged as a particular threat, repeatedly defeating Ottoman forces and expanding at Ottoman expense in the Black Sea region and the Caucasus. internally, the empire struggled with administrative inefficiency, military obsolescence, and economic difficulties. Recognizing these problems, Ottoman rulers and reformers uptented various modernization efforts. Selim III, who ruled from 1789 to 1807, initiated reforms at creating a modern

Starting point is 00:11:32 army and reforming administrative structures. His efforts met resistance from conservative elements, particularly the Janissaries, who saw reforms as threatening their interests. Ahmed II finally succeeded in eliminating the Janissary Corps in 1826, opening the way to more comprehensive reforms. The Tanzamat period from 1839 to 1876 was the most ambitious Ottoman reform effort. These reforms aimed at modernizing the empire along European lines while preserving its independence. The Tanzamat edicts proclaimed equality of all subjects regardless of religion, reformed taxation and military service, and introduced new legal codes based partially on European models. New schools were established and efforts were made to create a more efficient

Starting point is 00:12:17 centralized administration. Despite these reforms, the empire continued to lose territory and face internal challenges. Nationalist movements among the empire's various ethnic groups, inspired by European nationalism, increasingly threatened Ottoman unity. Greece won independence in the 1820s, followed gradually by other Balkan nations. Egypt, though nominally remaining part of the empire, became effectively autonomous under Muhammad Ali and his successors, and later became a British protectorate. The late 19th and early 20th century saw accelerating crises. The reign of Abdul Hamid II, from 1876 to 1909, was marked by autocratic rule, though it also saw continued modernization efforts, including the expansion of railway and telegraph networks. Growing

Starting point is 00:13:04 discontent among educated Ottomans, particularly military officers and intellectuals, led to the Young Turk Revolution of 1908, which forced the Sultan to restore the Constitution and Parliament. The young Turks came to dominate Ottoman politics, pursuing aggressive modernization and centralization policies. Their emphasis on Turkish nationalism, however, alienated many non-Turkish subjects and contributed to the empire's fragmentation. The Balkan wars of 1912 and 1913 resulted in the loss of nearly all remaining Ottoman territories in continental Europe. The empire's entry into World War I and the side of the central powers in 1914 proved catastrophic. Though Ottoman forces achieved notable victories, including at Gallipoli, the war drained

Starting point is 00:13:50 the empire's resources and led to the occupation of much of its territory by Allied forces. Following its defeat in World War I, the victorious allies carved up the Ottoman territories and sought to partition Anatolia itself through the Treaty of Severa in 1920. This treaty would have left only a small Turkish state in Central Anatolia. However, a nationalist resistance movement led by Mustafa Kamal, later known as Ataturk, rejected the treaty and fought a war of independence against occupying forces and the Sultan's government. The nationalist victory led to the abolition of the sultanate in 1922 and the formal proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1933, with Ataturk as its first president. The last Ottoman Sultan, Mehmet the 6th, fled into exile. In 1924, the caliphate itself was abolished, ending the Ottoman dynasty's claim to leadership of the Islamic world.

Starting point is 00:14:44 The Treaty of Luzon in 1923 recognized the new Turkish state and established its modern borders. The Ottoman Empire's legacy remains profound and complex. For over six centuries, it shaped the history of southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Ottoman architecture, art, and culture continue to influence these regions today. The empire's millet system and relative religious tolerance, despite not meeting modern standards, allowed diverse communities to coexist for centuries. Many modern Middle Eastern states emerge from former Ottoman territories, and the borders drawn after the empire's collapse continue to influence regional politics.

Starting point is 00:15:24 The Ottoman Empire's history demonstrates the rise and fall of one of history's great empires, showing how military prowess, administrative sophistication, and cultural achievement can create an enduring state. while also revealing how failure to adapt changing circumstances, nationalist movements, and great power competition can lead to an empire's destruction. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel. The associate producers are Austin Otkin and Cameron Kiefer. My big thanks go to everyone who supports the show over on Patreon. Your support helps make this podcast possible.

Starting point is 00:16:02 And I also want to remind everyone about the community groups on Facebook and Discord. That's where everything happens that's outside the podcast. and links to those are available in the show notes. As always, if you leave a review on any major podcast app or in the above community groups, you too can have it read in the show.

Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More - The Ottoman Empire

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