S.6 History Eastern Qns, First World War Caltec S.6

Chapter Six 1. The Eastern Question, 1815 -1878. 2. The First World War, 1914 -1918. 1. The Eastern Question, 1815 – 1878. This was the diplomatic problem posed in the 19th and 20th Centuries by the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, centering on the contest for control of former Ottoman territories. Any change (internal) in the Turkish domains caused tension among Europeans, each of whom feared that one of the others might take a dvantage of the political disarray to increase its own influence. It can also be referred to as the problem of filling up the vacuum created by the gradual disappearance of the Turkish Empire from Europe. Or the 19th century expression referring to the pr oblems raised by the threatened break - up and the decay of the Ottoman Empire Between the 14th and 17th centuries, Turkey created a great Empire through conquest. At the peak of its power, it stretched from the boarders of Austria and Russia in the north through Asia Minor, Syria and North Africa (Maghreb) i.e. Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. In the Balkan peninsular it controlled Rumania, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and Albania. The ruler of this Empire thus played a major part in European polit ics. The H/quarters of the Empire were at Constantinople. The Turkish Empire was composed of many races and religions but the known ones were Islam and Christianity. The Greeks believed in the Greek Orthodox Church while the Turks who ruled the Empire wer e Muslims and dictators and the regime was characterised by exploitation, oppression and militarism. SIGNIFICANCE OF TURKEY’S GREAT CONQUEST (a) It meant that a number of nationalities or races had been subjected under one ruler, the Sultan of Turkey. (b) Since they had been subjected to the Ottoman rule by force and not …