Ottoman Empire Dbq Analysis

The struggle between Greece and the Ottoman Empire can be dated back to the fifteenth century. The Ottoman Empire found itself fragile after the Napoleonic Wars of the 19th century, giving Greece an advantage to gain their independence from the Turkish Muslims. Nationalistic fervor spread among the Greek population, strengthening their will to overcome the rule of the Ottomans. From such tension rose a great war among the Greeks and the Ottomans, with the intervention of France, Russia, and Great Britain. This defensive union granted the Greeks with their independence in 1830. Although the Turkish Muslims thought of Greeks as simple drunkards and brigands, other critics saw them with heroic character, and the Turks as the ones who have stolen
Document 2 describes the orders Mustapha III sends to his governor in northern Greece. This document explains the rebellious acts of the Greeks, creating raids wherever they go, specifically in northern Greece. With this order, Mustapha III simply wants the city to be cleansed from rebellion. This document shines a negative light on the Greeks, whose behaviour and character is seen as chaotic and evil. Such conditions aren’t justified either, and the orders are simple, they just want to rid the city of the evil and chaos caused by the Greeks. The one who made this order, Mustapha III, was the Turkish sultan, so of course he’d want the Greeks to be “taken care of” as quick as possible for they were causing a great amount of distress for the Ottoman population in general. Also, being the Turkish sultan, it’s obvious the sultan doesn’t want to satisfy the needs of the Greeks, the cause of their rebellion being their need for independence, for losing rule of such an invested nation would prove to be detrimental in many aspects for the Ottoman Empire. Document 9 contains a letter from 1822, in which Turkish provincial governor Vahid Pasha writes that the Greek revolution had the facade of advocating for restoring religion when it was truly inspired by the old Greek myths that caused the revolution to be nothing more than drunk people parading around and yelling. This
Document 6 portrays the Greeks as warriors who are fighting for the liberation of the motherland. The document describes the awakening of Ares, the god of war, being the spirits of the Greek population fighting for freedom. This document notes the character of the Greeks as God-like, for they’re even described as a God of their own belief. They view the Ottomans and coward villains who are no match for the power of the Greeks, the heroes who seek freedom. This document is a pamphlet published in Italy; such a method in publication guarantees a large audience because they’re so accessible and easy to disseminate. With the high words of this pamphlet and its easy accessibility, it’s possible to guarantee a large group of supporters for the Greeks. Document 7 demonstrates such foreign support, in the form of a poem written by Percy Shelley. He holds the spirit of a call for action by declaring all as Greeks, and saying that the modern Greek is a descendant of glorious beings who have an ever-expanding mind and sense of courage. This document admired the character of the Greeks who fought for their independence, and the Turks who only wanted to possess and quiet such beauty. Percy Bysshe Shelley was an English poet. As a romantic, he uses his expertise in the studies of history and the classics to create a well developed argument that supports the Greek culture in