East Europe in the 19th Century Its Imperial Character The Eastern Question

1
East Europe in the 19th CenturyIts Imperial
CharacterThe Eastern Question
2
The Emergence of Nation States in EE

• 19th century beginning emergence of nation
  states in EE and decline of multi-national
  empires
• Driving force behind nationalization ideas of
  democracy and nationalism, imported from West
  Europe
• Background French revolution, German
  romanticism, education of EE elites in the West
• Most national movements nurtured and guided from
  outside
• Ideology romantic, ethnic nationalism

3
The Emergence of Nation States and the Empires

• Nationalization of EE in the 19th century focus
  on Ottoman Empire
• Ottoman E. only disintegrating empire in Europe,
  i.e. loosing territory
• Other empires still expanding (Russia Finland,
  Bessarabia 1812, Poland 1815, Austria Bosnia-H.
  1878, Prussia German unification 1871, England
  Near East)
• Or attempts to create nation states as satellites
  (e.g. Bulgaria 1878), many territorial changes on
  expenses of Ottoman E.

4
The Ottoman Empire Expansion and Retreat

• Ottoman Expansion entering Europe in 14th
  century, fall of Byzantium 1453, 1st siege of
  Vienna 1529, battle of Mohacs 1526, 2nd siege of
  Vienna 1683
• After 1683 gradual retreat from Europe, ending up
  1912/13 last territorial losses in Europe, 1923
  dissolution of Ottoman E., Turkish Republic

5
Reasons for Ottoman Decline

• Generally disadvantages in competition with
  European Christian powers
• Increasing conservatism through incorporation of
  Arab Muslim countries in 16th century
• Intellectual stagnation due to fixed social
  hierarchy, failure to meet external challenges
  (western dynamism since beginning of Early Modern
  Age)

6
Internal Reasons for Decline

• Ottoman system based on expansion (nomadic
  traditions), unable to consolidate
• Inefficient tax system
• Qualitative decline of rulership
• Inefficient system of land ownership
• Stagnation in military developments

7
World Economy

• Shift of centers of world economy and world trade
  from Mediterranian to Atlantic sphere, since 16th
  century

8
Consequences

• Eastern Question problem to fill power vaccum
  left by Ottomans in Southeast Europe
• Final result nationalization of SEE
• Original intentions replace one imperial rule by
  another
• Main competitors Austria, Russia
• Also involved GB, France, Germany (after 1878)
• Conflicts e.g. Crimean War, Congress of Berlin

9
The Crimean War
10
The Congress of Berlin