Ottoman Empire

The decline of the Ottoman Empire would create opportunity for the European Great Powers: Austria, Russia, France, and Great Britain. These nations would both support and diminish the Ottoman Empire, both for economic gain and to thwart the ambitions of the others. The manipulation of the Middle East would reflect the rivalry of the European nations over power and economic advantage. The death throes of the Ottoman would take nearly two centuries as the powers of Europe squabbled over the pieces of the declining empire. Russia’s interest in the Ottomans stemmed from a need for a warm water port for trade and defense; however, access to the Black Sea required control of lands belonging to the Ottomans. The straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles flanked the passage to the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Another prize of the region, Istanbul held prestige with the Eastern Orthodox Christians many of whom lived in Russia (Goldschmidt 141). In fact, Russia would become the diplomatic patrons of the Eastern Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire. Between 1806 and 1878, Russia troops entered the Balkans five times. The aggressive policies of Russia would be thwarted by the efforts of the other European powers to protect the fragile balance of power between them (Goldschmidt 142). Russia’s chief rival for possession of the
The greed of France and Britain supported the Ottomans after the empire had fallen into disrepair; conversely, the expansionist ambitions or Austria and Russia slowly chewed away Ottoman territories. Supported and protected by France and Britain the Ottomans survived the ambition of Austria and Russian for nearly two centuries, conversely, the rivalry and greed of these same European powers would ultimately destroy the Ottoman Empire. From the ashes of the Ottoman Empire new nations would rise in the Middle East, and lost kingdoms would