0:06
the fall of the Ottoman Empire a
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multifaceted analysis
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the Ottoman Empire was a vast and
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complex geopolitical entity that existed
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from around 1299 to 1922 at the height
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of its power the Empire controlled
0:22
territories in Europe Asia and Africa
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despite its longevity and Military
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prowess the Empire eventually declined
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and fell and understanding why this
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happened is a subject of ongoing debate
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among historians there are internal as
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well as external factors which
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participated in the fall of the Ottoman
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Empire they are one political
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political instability was a Cornerstone
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in the unraveling of the once Mighty
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Ottoman Empire which at its Zenith
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controlled vast swathes of land
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stretching from the gates of Vienna to
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the heart of the Arab world
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understanding how political instability
1:00
contributed to the Empire's decline
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requires a nuanced look at several
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interconnected elements from succession
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crises to internal power struggles
1:10
2. succession crises the Ottoman Empire
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had no established law of succession
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which meant that upon the death of a
1:18
sultan his sons often fought among
1:20
themselves for control of the throne
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initially this practice had a brutal
1:24
sort of efficacy it ensured that the
1:26
most cunning and capable Sun would
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become the sultan however as time passed
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these succession battles turned
1:34
increasingly destructive during the
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Empire's later period from the 17th
1:38
century onwards these contests for
1:41
succession often led to the imprisonment
1:43
or execution of some of the most
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talented individuals in the Empire
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simply because they posed a threat to
1:51
resources were diverted for these
1:53
internal struggles weakening the Empire
1:55
externally furthermore the janissaries
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the elite fighting force of the Empire
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often got involved in these succession
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crises eroding their role as an
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apolitical military force and
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introducing corruption and inefficiency
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into the military system
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3. factionalism and the role of the
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janissaries while the janissaries had
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initially been a source of military
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strength their evolving role in ottoman
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politics became a liability
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from the 16th century onwards the
2:27
janissaries increasingly became involved
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they realized that their military power
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could be translated into political
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influence and began to interfere in
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matters of state and succession
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their involvement led to political
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instability as they would sometimes
2:43
support weaker Sultans who would be more
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willing to bend to their interests
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further weakening centralized Authority
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4. administrative corruption corruption
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was rampant in the ottoman bureaucracy
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bribery embezzlement and nepotism
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weakened the efficient administration of
3:01
in many cases high-ranking officials
3:03
were more interested in enriching
3:05
themselves than in serving the state
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as the fiscal resources of the state
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were siphoned off this left fewer
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resources for Vital institutions such as
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the military and infrastructure which
3:17
led to a decline in the Empire's
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defensive and administrative
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5. the influence of women in the
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Imperial Harem traditionally historians
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have pointed to the influence of the
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Imperial Harem as a source of political
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instability although this is a topic of
3:35
the mothers and wives of Sultans often
3:37
wielded significant influence and at
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times factions within the Harem became
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as powerful as factions within the court
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the term sultanate of women was coined
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to describe periods when women from the
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Harem effectively controlled the Empire
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usually through a young or weak Sultan
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these internal struggles for power
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within the Harem often had implications
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that rippled throughout the Empire
4:00
leading to political instability
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6. decay of central Authority as the
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central Authority weakened Regional
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Governors known as pashas began to
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accumulate more power these pashas
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sometimes acted almost as independent
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rulers and failed to send tax revenues
4:18
to the capital which in turn led to
4:20
financial crises at the center moreover
4:22
they would often create private armies
4:25
further undermining the centralized
4:27
military control that was crucial for
4:29
the Empire's survival conclusion
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political instability was a significant
4:33
factor in the decline and eventual
4:35
collapse of the Ottoman Empire from
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succession crises to the transformation
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of elite military units into Political
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factions multiple elements contributed
4:45
to the erosion of centralized power
4:48
administrative corruption and the
4:50
Devolution of authority to Regional
4:51
Governors exacerbated these issues
4:53
making it difficult for the Empire to
4:56
respond effectively to both internal and
4:58
external challenges while not the sole
5:01
cause of the Empire's fall political
5:03
medical instability was a catalyst that
5:06
accelerated its decline leaving it
5:08
vulnerable to the host of other
5:09
challenges it faced in its Twilight
