Zaryab Ayub, Alex Ge, Josh Herl, Jack Eckhardt

IntroductionIn the 1500s, the land from western Africa to

Southeast Asia was Muslim territory

There were three Muslim empires:The Ottomans in the Middle EastThe Safavids in PersiaThe Mughals in India

In the 1700s, Muslim empires were in decline, and European powers would soon invade these areas

Problems in Muslim RegionsWhy was there decay in Muslim areas?

Central government powers lost control of powerful groups urban guilds, military elites, and nobles

Corruption In some areas, scholars and religious leaders were against the

government; in others, they were friends with the state

European ImperialismEuropean countries gained the advantage over Muslim areas

through military threats and diplomacy Signed trading treaties that gave them the advantage Demanded special rights for Europeans living in Muslim areas

Attempted Reform Muslim Reform Movements:

1700s and 1800s Popped up in Muslim regions in Africa and Asia

Most reforms stressed: Religious piety Strict rules for behavior

Usman dan Fodio Led reform in northern Africa

Muhammad Ahmad Led reform in Sudan Announced he was the Mahdi, which was the savoir of

the faith Resisted British forces

WahhabiIslamic reform movementArabiaRejected the schools of theology and lawWanted to capture the essence of Muhammad’s original

teachingsRevolt was put down, but the Wahhabi still exists today.

Ottoman Empire at its Peak

Constantinople/Istanbul

The Ottoman EmpireProblems

1800s Pashas (provincial rules) had increased their power. Economic problems and corruption

Led to the decay of the empireRevolts

Nationalism ideas spread Led to internal revolts Balkans, Greeks, Serbs, Bulgarians, and Romanians gained their

independence Egypt slipped out of their control Revolts in Arabia, Lebanon, and Armenia

The Ottoman EmpireEuropean countries

Wanted to benefit from the Ottoman Empire France

Seized Algeria Hoped to get more territory

Russia Wanted to control Bosporus and the Dardanelles Would give them access to the Mediterranean

Britain Tried to stop Russia

Germany Wanted to create a Berlin-to-Baghdad railway

The Ottoman EmpireReforms:

Late 1700s Reorganized bureaucracy Reorganized tax collection Built railroads Improved education Trained an army Men were sent to the West to learn

Results: Improved medical care and farming Population explosion Increased tension

The Ottoman EmpireYoung Turks

1890sReform movement made from liberalsOverthrew the sultan in 1908Couldn’t reform due to WWI

GenocideMuslim Turks accused Christians of plotting against the

empireKilled over 600,000 Armenian Christians

Egypt and North Africa

EgyptEarly 1800s

Semi-independent province of the Ottoman empire

Muhammad AliOften called the “father of modern Egypt”Made successful reformsAmbitious soldier appointed by the governorSeized power in 1805Died in 1849

Muhammad’s successorsLacked skillsEgypt slowly came into foreign control

Reforms of Muhammad AliPolitical and economic reforms:

Improved tax collectionReorganized land owning systemLarge irrigation systems

Helped farmersExpanded cotton production and encouraged the

development of local industries Involved Egypt in world trade

Military reforms:Bought western military experts

Built a well-trained armyConquered Sudan, Syria, and Arabia.

Suez CanalFerdinand de Lesseps

French entrepreneurOrganized company to build Suez Canal in 1858

Borrowed money from European countriesEuropean countries charged large interest rates to take

advantage of the Ottoman Empire1875: Egypt was unable to pay back loans

To pay debts they sold shares of the canal Britain bought shares; controlled part of the canal

Suez Canal

More than 100 miles long

Connects Mediterranean and Red Seas

Reduced trip from London, England to Bombay, India by 5,150 miles

At first, only a few ships would travel through the canal per day. The travel time through the canal averaged 40 hours.

Today, oil tankers and cargo ships make up most of the canals traffic with a travel time of about 14 hours.

Egypt Becomes a ProtectorateProtectorate – A country with its own government

controlled by an outside country

1882Egyptian nationalists revolted against foreign influencesBritain turned Egypt into a protectorateGovernment was still an Ottoman government

Followed British policies Egypt continued to modernize

Nationalist discontent causes more protests and riots

PersiaThe Qajar shahs

Ruled Persia from 1794 to 1925Ruled with absolute powerAttempted to reform Persia

Built telegraph lines and railroads Experimented with a liberal constitution

Both Britain and Russia wanted Persia:Russia wanted to expand into Central AsiaBritain wanted to protect its interests in India.

European Rule over PersiaDiscovery of oil in 1900s

Both Britain and Russia wanted control of oilPersuaded Persia to give them concessions

Special rights give to foreign powers.

Both countries sent troops the PersiaOutraged nationalists

Two groups of nationalists: One that wanted to adapt to western traditions One that hated the western government and traditions

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