Lecturer: Inrahim Koncak

Student: Aidana Sheralieva IR 4-A

Take home exam: Analyze the reforms of Sultan Selim 3 and explain:

a)why those reform wasnt successful

b)If you were Selim 3, how would you reform the empire?

When Selim III took the throne his predecessor, Abdulhamid I, had left
a real mess for him.The Ottoman Empire was once again involved in a
devastating war against not only Russia, but also against Austria in an
attempt to regain the Crimea. The second Russo-Turkish War, 1787-1792,
concluded with another debilitating defeat for the Ottoman Empire. Even
though the Ottoman Empire was defeated, the end of the war at least
allowed Selim III to concentrate on the problems that were plaguing the
Empire, rather than focusing on new wars with European nations. The two
defeats mentioned above eliminated Ottoman control over the Crimea and
severely incapacitated Ottoman control over the Black Sea. After the two
defeats mentioned above, Selim III realized the Empire needed radical
reform. I wrote the main reforms of Selim III shortly :
1.Remodel army based on Western model
2.European schools
3.Ulama's power------------------>European style ministry's
Results of Selim's Reforms:
Reforms failed to give actual results. In a series of events difficult to carry out and
implement reforms and aggravate the situation and the empire itself, it was a FrancoTurkish War of 1798. After this war, Turkey's foreign policy position remained stable for
some time, but the start of the national liberation movement in the Balkan provinces of
the empire. The problems in the country caused a new upsurge of reformation of the
government.
Sultan tried to increase the number of troops, their combat effectiveness. However,
there are opponents of reform, who organized protests against the authorities. The
position of the Sultan and his weakened began in 1807. Russian-Turkish war. new plot
a rebellion and Selim III abdicated was organized against the Sultan.Over the next year,
the confrontation reactionary and reformist forces, resulting in 1808 in the reign of
Mahmud II, which is only approximately 20-years old continued the work of his
predecessor - Selim III.
Ottoman society suggests that setbacks in the military field made contact with the
West imperative; starting with the Tulip Age, this process resulted in awareness of
European societies and their modern achievements which gradually eroded the curtain

that separated the Dar al-Islam from the Dar al-Harb; with the age old separation
cracking, new ambassadorial contacts and new military technology began to flow; with
these also came social ideas and aspect of cultural traits that had made them possible;
the scope of this interaction was still insignificant, but it laid the foundation of meaningful
changes of the coming decades. What were the channels by which knowledge of the
West presented itself - a young generation of Ottomans sent abroad in diplomatic
missions or for military training.- a number of European military specialist brought from
abroad to train Ottoman Nezam forces?; unlike the Tulip Age, these instructors were
free to associate with the Ottoman population and exchange ideas.- an increase in
mercantile activity resulted in more European presence in Istanbul; again unlike the
early 18th century, by the time of Selim, these could freely move around the city and
frequent Ottoman residences; debate societies and Christians of the empire acted as
mediums for exchange of ideas and other interaction.- nevertheless, the scope of this
interaction was limited to the Ottoman elite.
It is really difficult to imagine the situation, in which was Selim III, I think,the
reasons for this state of affairs began in the first place, the government inattention to the
life of the enslaved peoples. This was not possible in a multiethnic state, the Ottoman
Empire. This indifference was driving at "zero" all good intentions to establish a life in
the country and did not contribute to the preservation of the unity of the empire.
Secondly, the Capitulations in which Turkey was found to be the cause of lack of
independence of the empire in foreign affairs. Turkey in this respect was to follow the
"orders" of the leading European powers. Supporting transformation in Turkey, Europe
does not take the interests of this country. Foreign capital is more and more penetrated
into Turkey, turning it into a semi-colony. Various economic concessions to European
countries, crossed out all those actions aimed at stabilizing the areas of production.The
impact of these two factors explain the absence of major changes in the economy in
Turkey. I think with this conclude, I made the understanding, what I would do on the
place of sultan Selim III.

http://digitalcommons.ric.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=honors_projects
The book: 2006 The Tanzimat and the Problem of Political Authority in the Ottoman Empire:
1839-1876 Kevin Goodwin Rhode Island College, kgoodwin@uchicago.edu