Transcript Abdul Hamid II

Abdul Hamid II
1876 – 1909
Reaction to modernization
• Islam could not be flawed -> fault with
Muslims:
– French knowers/Western educated elite targeted,
but also
– Self-criticism of Muslim intellectuals and political
activists
• Reassertion of Islamic values
Territorial losses
• Abdul Hamid accepted losses of the
“peripheries” of the empire; the Balkans,
Tunisia and Egypt
• Retained the core territory of the empire;
consolidation (e.g. fought to keep Armenia)
Authoritarian reform
• Abdul Hamid II suspended the constitution in
1878
• Control of government moved back to the
royal palace
• Expanded powers of the central government
• Political and intellectual restrictions
Tanzimat vs Abdul Hamid II
• Western inspired
reforms
• Secularism
• Ottomanism
• Stress on Islamic
heritage
• Catered to religious
establishment
• Pan-Islam
• The caliphate; protector
of all Muslims
Continuity
• Improvement of financial system a priority, but
empire still ended up bankrupt  Europeans in
control of finances
• Educational reforms continued; number of schools
and teachers doubled
• Infrastructure further developed: 6 x roads, 3 x rail
tracks, telegraph x 3; mining; agricultural export
increased; local industry
• Centralization of control tightened
• Closer relationship with Germany
Authoritarian rule
• Strict censorship of press, school curricula and
public discussions
• Secret police and spies

• Imprisonment or exile of leading officials and
intellectuals; formed opposition groups
• Higher educational institutions breeding
grounds for discontent
Separatist movements
• Ruthless suppression of nationalist movement
• Armenian community targeted
Abdul Hamid’s demise
• Caused by:
– Economic pressures
– Foreign interference
– Autocratic rule
– Loss of army’s support