NOTES 11.3: Europeans Claim Muslim Lands
CAUSES OF OTTOMAN DECLINE
Provincial rulers increased their power
Frequent NATIONALIST revolts – internal revolts sprang up as groups in the multiethnic
empire sought independence
Ottoman rulers implemented reforms in the late 1700s (better living conditions) but
unrest grew as a growing population put increased pressure on the land
European powers competed for control of Ottoman territory
Nationalism ignited tensions btw Turks and minority groups – triggered Armenian
Genocide
EUROPEANS GRAB TERRITORY
World pwrs attracted to the Ottoman Empire for its strategic location = GEOPOLITICS
= Strategic location due to its access to both the Mediterranean and Black Seas
For ex: Russia desperately wanted access to the Black Sea into the Mediterranean
RESULT: CRIMEAN WAR (Russia vs. the Ottomans)
**Britain & France came to the aid of the Ottomans
**Russians defeated but revealed weakness of the Ottoman Empire
**Slavic ppl of the Balkans took advantage and rebelled against the Ottomans
REFORMS MADE BY MUHAMMAD ALI – “Father of Modern Egypt”
Made political & economic reforms
Improved tax collection
Reorganized landholding system & backed irrigation projects
Encouraged & expanded industry & world trade
Brought in western military experts to build modern army
By 1849, Egypt became a major Middle Eastern pwr
EGYPT & the SUEZ CANAL
Canal connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea
British sought controlling interest in the Suez Canal & made Egypt a protectorate
PERSIA PRESSURED TO CHANGE
Persia became a center of imperialist interest after the discovery of oil
Britain and Russia competed to gain spheres of influence in Persia
Persia lacked capital to develop its own resources, thus, rulers granted to concessions to
western businesses to raise $
Notes 11.4: British Imperialism in India
BRITISH EXPAND CONTROL OVER INDIA
The Mughal Empire of India fell into decline in the early 1700s
By the mid 1700s, the British East India Company was the most important pwr in India
o it held huge amounts of land
o had its own army: staffed by SEPOYS (Indian soldiers)
o its goals: to make $ and to that end, they improved roads, tried to preserve peace,
reduced banditry, ended slavery and the caste system, improved position of women &
spread Christianity
India was the main supplier of raw materials for Britain = “jewel in the crown” = bc it was the
most valuable colony
How did British rule affect India?
BENEFITS:
o rail system was 3rd largest in the world - helped make India’s economy more modern
o built telephone & telegraph lines, dams, bridges, canals, etc.
o improved sanitation and public healthy and built schools
PROBLEMS:
o Indian industry died out bc of British trade laws
o Many farmers and villages could no longer feed themselves bc they were forced to grow
cash crops
o India suffered famines in the late 1800s
o Most british officials had racist attitudes that threatened Indian culture
THE SEPOY MUTINY (rebellion)
Immediate causes:
o East India Co. required sepoys to serve overseas
o New law allowing widows to remarry went against Hindu traditions
o Rumor that rifle cartridges were greased with animal fat (Hindus consider the cow sacred
& Muslims do not eat pork)
Long-term cause = opposition to British domination and interference in traditional life
Sepoys rebelled against British officers and brutally massacred them
British crushed the revolt and changed their policy = Parliament put India directly under the
British crown
The Sepoy Mutiny failed bc the Indians were divided (Hindus vs. Muslims)
Raj = refers to British rule over India from 1757 to 1947
NATIONALISM SURFACES IN INDIA
Ram Mohun Roy – a great scholar who felt India could learn from the West and at the same time,
revitalize Indian culture; considered founder of Indian nationalism
Nationalist feelings trew as Indians resented British discrimination (Indians barred from best
jobs in Indian Civil Service, getting paid less, etc)
Indians formed 2 groups: the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League