The Fall of the Ottoman Empire

End of Abdulhamid II's Reign

• In the early hours of April 27th, 1909, Sultan Abdulhamid II left Istanbul on a train, marking the end of his reign.
• His family's six-century rule over the Ottoman Empire, spanning regions in North Africa, southeastern Europe, and the Middle East, was nearing its end.

Decline and Reforms

• The Janissaries, once a feared faction, had become inefficient, leading to military defeats and economic crises.
• Sultan Selim III attempted to reform and modernize, but was assassinated by the Janissaries.
• Mahmud II crushed the Janissaries in the Auspicious Event and replaced them with a European-style army.

Tanzimat Era

• Sultan Abdulmejid initiated the Tanzimat reforms, overhauling economic and administrative systems, and promoting inclusivity in government roles.
• The era faced challenges from foreign debt, political upheaval, and the initiative to unify diverse subjects across the empire.

Struggles with Diversity

• The Ottoman Empire included various religious and ethnic groups with limited rights compared to Muslim citizens, leading to reform pressure.
• Attempts to unify under an Ottoman national identity faced resistance, leading to separatist movements and foreign interference.
• Loss of territories in North Africa and the Balkans occurred, and pan-Ottoman identity initiatives were not very successful.

Abdulhamid II's Rule

• He continued modernizing reforms but ruled as an absolute monarch, suspending the constitution and enforcing censorship.
• His reign was marked by political oppression and violence, including the Hamidian massacres against Armenians.

Young Turk Revolution and World War I

• The Young Turk Revolution in 1908 reduced Abdulhamid's power, restoring the constitution and leading to the rise of the Young Turks.
• They pushed for reforms but also fostered Turkish-centered nationalism, alienating other Ottoman groups.
• The Committee for Union and Progress sided with Germany in WWI, resulting in heavy losses and aligning with Germany.

Armenian Genocide

• In 1915, the Temporary Law of Deportation led to the ethnic cleansing of Armenians, with approximately 1 million deaths, known as the Armenian Genocide.

Post-World War I and the Empire's Dissolution

• The Ottoman Empire, on the losing side of WWI, was divided by the victors into new nation-states.
• Territories became Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Jordan, with Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine divided between France and Britain.
• The Turkish War of Independence altered further plans for Istanbul and Anatolia.
• In 1923, the Republic of Turkey was established, formally ending the Ottoman rule.