Ottoman Empire DBQ

Objective: to gain an understanding of what the Ottoman Empire was, its power over and influence on the region, as well
as the factors which led to its downfall.

Directions: Divide students into seven groups. Explain that they are investigative reporters who are being sent out to get
answers to the following. They will share their findings with the rest of the class through the format of a Dateline broadcast.
(They are not to merely read off an answer to the question.) One person may be the anchor reporting from the news desk
who will then introduce a reporter on the scene with more information and/or an interview with someone on location.
Students should use their imagination to put themselves in the position of those about whom they are reporting.

Materials: Students may use any of the following depending on their group assignment:

textbook pp.442-443, 454, and 449-450.

The Middle East Under the Power of the Turks
New Forces for Change in the Ottoman Empire

Group 1: Use p.442 and p. 451 to find the following (use the text, map, pictures and captions)

What was the Ottoman Empire?

Where--what parts of the world were eventually included in this empire?

When was the Ottoman Empire in power?

How did the Ottoman Empire impact culture? (religion, art, law, architecture...?)

Group 2: Use p. 442 in student text, as well as teacher's edition

Who was Suleiman I?

What other names refer to him--aliases, nicknames...? (we don't want to miss out on important details about this
guy because he is using a code name!)

How would you describe his standing with his citizens--how would he rate in the public opinion polls? (look at his
ratings not only with his own people, but with Christians and Jews as well).

What are some of his major accomplishments?

Group 3: Use the following articles to :

Spread of Islam-Background Essay Spread of Islam- Document A Spread of Islam-Document C

Spread of Islam- Document D Spread of Islam-Document E

1. Compare the maps and documents A and C. How did the Middle Eastern trade routes of the Christian Byzantine
Empire and the Persian Empire lead to the spread of Islam?
2. How effective were the Middle Eastern traders in spreading Islam?
3. What was the Ghazu and the Ummah? How did Islam change the way Ghazu worked?
4. Why were the Arabs able to conquer much of Persia and parts of Byzantium?
5. What are the jobs and duties of the caliph?
Group 4: Use pp.442-443 in student text, as well as the article, The Middle East Under the Power of the Turks.

What is their secret--what is it that has enabled them to be so successful?

How have they acquired such loyal support?

Group 5: Use p. 443 in student text, as well as the article, The Middle East Under the Power of the Turks.

What is their weakness...everybody has a weak spot...you must find this!

What effect did this weakness have on the empire?

Group 6: Use New Forces For Change in the Ottoman Empire. (The map on p.454 of the purple text may also be helpful.)

Which countries have been successful in their opposition to the Ottoman Empire?

Where did they strike the Ottoman Empire?

How did the invaders benefit from their victory over the Ottoman Empire?

How did the defeat of the Ottoman Empire by these invaders affect the Ottomans citizens' approval of their
government?

Group 7: Use New Forces for Change in the Ottoman Empire and p. 449 in the purple textbook.

The government leaders of the Ottoman Empire have been humiliated after a number of defeats. What changes do
they try in an attempt to rescue their Empire/their power?

What is the end of the story for the Ottoman Empire? (what brought about their demise?)

When groups are ready to share, arrange a few desks as a news desk. The Dateline program could begin with an
introduction similar to the following:

Good evening ladies and gentleman and welcome to Dateline. The year is 1920 and tonight's story takes us to Southwest
Asia where massive changes appear to be underway. This has been a land of mystery to many of us here in the West--
when we hear of the Middle East we think of camels, sultans, deserts. But is there more to this region that maybe we don't
know? Of particular interest tonight is a long ruling government we are hearing about called the Ottoman Empire. Tonight we
will hear from our Dateline reporters which are on sight in the region with the facts, including some live interviews.
 Student Pages:

Group 1: Use p.442 and p. 451 to find the following (use the text, map, pictures and captions)

What was the Ottoman Empire?

Where--what parts of the world were eventually included in this empire?

When was the Ottoman Empire in power?

How did the Ottoman Empire impact culture? (religion, art, law, architecture...?)

Group 2: Use p. 442 in student text, as well as teacher's edition

Who was Suleiman I?

What other names refer to him--aliases, nicknames...? (Don't miss out on important details about this guy because he is
using a code name!)

How would you describe his standing with his citizens--how would he rate in the public opinion polls? (look at his ratings
not only with his own people, but with Christians and Jews as well).

What are some of his major accomplishments?

Group 3: Use the following articles: Spread of Islam-Background Essay Spread of Islam- Document A

Spread of Islam-Document C Spread of Islam- Document D Spread of Islam-Document E

Compare the maps and documents A and C.

How did the Middle Eastern trade routes of the Christian Byzantine Empire and the Persian Empire lead to the spread of
Islam?

1. How effective were the Middle Eastern traders in spreading Islam?

2. What was the Ghazu and the Ummah? How did Islam change the way Ghazu worked?
3. Why were the Arabs able to conquer much of Persia and parts of Byzantium?
4. What are the jobs and duties of the caliph?
Group 4: Use pp.442-443 in student text, as well as the article, The Middle East Under the Power of the Turks.

What is their secret--what is it that has enabled them to be so successful?

How have they acquired such loyal support?

Middle East Under the Power Of the Turks

Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers

The Serbian boys cried as they saw their village for the last time. They were being carried off as part of the devshirme, or boy tax.
Each year the Turkish Governor of Serbia demanded that his Christians subjects supply the sultan with boys between the ages of 8-10 as slaves.
Now the boys pondered the fact that their turn had come as they saw the village disappear behind the mountain. Their parents, watching from the
village could console themselves with a few good thoughts. Although the boys would be converted to Islam, they would probably get the best
education possible and be almost assured wealth and status as servants of the Ottoman Empire. Since all of the Christian boys were being
enslaved, the Christian girls had no choice to marry Muslim boys, thus converting to Islam.
Who were these Ottoman, and where did they come from? After the Middle Easterners had successfully fought off the Crusaders, they
faced a more fearsome enemy: The Mongols. These ferocious warriors mounted on short, study horses trotted into the Middle East after
conquering China. They swept all before them and burned and looted great Islamic cities like Baghdad. Yet, their domination was short lived.
Osman, a prince of a small Turkish principality in teh 15 th century, gradually carved out for himself a new empire from the remnant of the old.
Named after Osman, this new empire is known as the Ottoman Empire. With amazing speed, his successors spread the empire in all directions.
After Turkey, they turned to the Serbian Empire, then captured Constantinople, bringing the Christian Byzantine Empire to an end. Finally, they
captured all of the Middle East and North Africa. In 1529 the greatest of Osmans descendants, Suleiman the Magnificent, even attacked Vienna,
one of the main capitals of Europe.
Although Suleiman failed to capture the Austrian city, he nevertheless ruled over a well run empire from his capital in Istanbul. When the
Ottomans captured Constantinople, they changed the name to Istanbul and proceeded to make an already beautifully city breathtaking. They built
mosques with huge domes and pencil thin minarets. For the first 200 years of its existence, the Ottoman Empire was ruled by able sultans. These
men could count also on the fanatical loyalty of the slaves collected by the devshirme. They supplied the empire with administrators, scribes, and
soldiers. Most noteworthy of these slaves were the Janissaries. Like the rest of the devshirme, they came as children from the sultans Christian
possessions. Well educated in special schools they made up and elite corps of infantry. The Janissaries were kept in closed barracks where they
spent their time in endless military drill. They were only allowed out to fight the sultans enemies. Because of their discipline and devotion to the
sultan, they were almost unbeatable in battle.
However, even in Suleimans day, the empire began to show signs of weakness. The Ottomans fell behind the Europeans
Technologically. While the Europeans developed new and faster sailing ships, the Ottomans still used oar driven galleys. Conservative religious
leaders repressed the use of the printing presses so that books were rare. In time, even the Janissaries were no match for European armies with
better firearms. Meanwhile European discoveries found a new sea born trade route around the coast of Africa and across the Atlantic to the New
world. Sea travel was much cheaper than carrying goods by land across the Middle East. As a result, commerce and trade in the Ottoman Empire
deteriorated. Most of the trade bypassed the Middle East altogether and what survived was dominated by European Merchants who negotiated
special contracts for lower prices. These insured that they paid no tax and enjoyed special privileges that put their Middle Eastern competitors
out of business.
Corruption, too, had weakened the sultans ability to rule. With the death of Suleiman, the line of strong sultans came to an end.
Suleimans heir was known as Selim the Drunkard. The office of the grand vizier, the sultans right hand man, came to be occupied by men chosen
for their popularity and not their ability. Without strong control at the top, administrators taxed the people unjustly for profit, and the Janissaries
began to dominate the sultan. When the sultans tried to initiate reforms, they were assassinated by the Janissaries who feared losing their
privileges. In the various provinces of the empire, such as Egypt, local governors gained increasing power from the sultan so that they became
almost separate princes. As the world entered the 1800s, the Middle East found itself running desperately behind Europe.
Group 5: Use p. 443 in student text, as well as the article, The Middle East Under the Power of the Turks.

What is their weakness...everybody has a weak spot...you must find this!

What effect did this weakness have on the empire?

Middle East Under the Power Of the Turks

Mark Twain Media, Inc., Publishers

The Serbian boys cried as they saw their village for the last time. They were being carried off as part of the devshirme, or boy tax.
Each year the Turkish Governor of Serbia demanded that his Christians subjects supply the sultan with boys between the ages of 8-10 as slaves.
Now the boys pondered the fact that their turn had come as they saw the village disappear behind the mountain. Their parents, watching from the
village could console themselves with a few good thoughts. Although the boys would be converted to Islam, they would probably get the best
education possible and be almost assured wealth and status as servants of the Ottoman Empire. Since all of the Christian boys were being
enslaved, the Christian girls had no choice to marry Muslim boys, thus converting to Islam.
Who were these Ottoman, and where did they come from? After the Middle Easterners had successfully fought off the Crusaders, they
faced a more fearsome enemy: The Mongols. These ferocious warriors mounted on short, study horses trotted into the Middle East after
conquering China. They swept all before them and burned and looted great Islamic cities like Baghdad. Yet, their domination was short lived.
Osman, a prince of a small Turkish principality in teh 15 th century, gradually carved out for himself a new empire from the remnant of the old.
Named after Osman, this new empire is known as the Ottoman Empire. With amazing speed, his successors spread the empire in all directions.
After Turkey, they turned to the Serbian Empire, then captured Constantinople, bringing the Christian Byzantine Empire to an end. Finally, they
captured all of the Middle East and North Africa. In 1529 the greatest of Osmans descendants, Suleiman the Magnificent, even attacked Vienna,
one of the main capitals of Europe.
Although Suleiman failed to capture the Austrian city, he nevertheless ruled over a well run empire from his capital in Istanbul. When the
Ottomans captured Constantinople, they changed the name to Istanbul and proceeded to make an already beautifully city breathtaking. They built
mosques with huge domes and pencil thin minarets. For the first 200 years of its existence, the Ottoman Empire was ruled by able sultans. These
men could count also on the fanatical loyalty of the slaves collected by the devshirme. They supplied the empire with administrators, scribes, and
soldiers. Most noteworthy of these slaves were the Janissaries. Like the rest of the devshirme, they came as children from the sultans Christian
possessions. Well educated in special schools they made up and elite corps of infantry. The Janissaries were kept in closed barracks where they
spent their time in endless military drill. They were only allowed out to fight the sultans enemies. Because of their discipline and devotion to the
sultan, they were almost unbeatable in battle.
However, even in Suleimans day, the empire began to show signs of weakness. The Ottomans fell behind the Europeans
Technologically. While the Europeans developed new and faster sailing ships, the Ottomans still used oar driven galleys. Conservative religious
leaders repressed the use of the printing presses so that books were rare. In time, even the Janissaries were no match for European armies with
better firearms. Meanwhile European discoveries found a new sea born trade route around the coast of Africa and across the Atlantic to the New
world. Sea travel was much cheaper than carrying goods by land across the Middle East. As a result, commerce and trade in the Ottoman Empire
deteriorated. Most of the trade bypassed the Middle East altogether and what survived was dominated by European Merchants who negotiated
special contracts for lower prices. These insured that they paid no tax and enjoyed special privileges that put their Middle Eastern competitors
out of business.
Corruption, too, had weakened the sultans ability to rule. With the death of Suleiman, the line of strong sultans came to an end.
Suleimans heir was known as Selim the Drunkard. The office of the grand vizier, the sultans right hand man, came to be occupied by men chosen
for their popularity and not their ability. Without strong control at the top, administrators taxed the people unjustly for profit, and the Janissaries
began to dominate the sultan. When the sultans tried to initiate reforms, they were assassinated by the Janissaries who feared losing their
privileges. In the various provinces of the empire, such as Egypt, local governors gained increasing power from the sultan so that they became
almost separate princes. As the world entered the 1800s, the Middle East found itself running desperately behind Europe.
Group 6: Use New Forces For Change in the Ottoman Empire. (The map on p.454 of the purple text may also be helpful.)

Which countries have been successful in their opposition to the Ottoman Empire?

Where did they strike the Ottoman Empire?

How did the invaders benefit from their victory over the Ottoman Empire?

How did the defeat of the Ottoman Empire by these invaders affect the Ottomans citizens' approval of their government?

New Forces For Change In The Ottoman Empire

The Turkish ambassador tried to repress his feelings of humiliation as the ambassador from Russia pushed the final
draft of the treaty to his side of the table. In it he read how the Ottoman Empire promised to turn almost all of the shore of the
Black sea, including the Crimean Peninsula, over to Russia. He hated to sign the document, which recorded only the latest of
the sultans losses to Russia, but he had no choice. Even as the diplomats haggled over the terms of the treaty, a Russian
army was marching towards Istanbul.
In the final years of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire became a battleground. As we
can see, Russia sought to acquire Ottoman territory along its frontier. France, too, sent Napoleon Bonaparte to invade Egypt.
The invasion failed, but it had profo9und effects. Napoleon brought with him scholars who began to study, for the first time, the
ancient remains of Egypt. They also found the Rosetta Stone, which allowed them to decipher Egyptian Hieroglyphics. They
could do this because the same text was written in both Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphics on the stone.
For the people of the Middle East, Napoleons invasion impressed upon them the superior technological capabilities
of a European Power. Before Napoleon, they still believed that they were the most sophisticated civilization in the world. The
ease with which Napoleons troops defeated the Egyptian army in the heart of the Middle East was a great shock. After
Napoleon was driven out with British help, Middle Easterners redoubled their pleases for reform and modernization.
Despairing that the Ottomans would never improve the system, Muhammad Ali (Not the boxer) the governor of Egypt,
declared Egypt independent. He began a crash program of modernization along the European lines. He set up schools of
military science, medicine, and engineering. He founded government printing presses to publish technological manuals. He
also began to publish the first Arab-language newspaper in 1828 called al-Waqai al-Misriyyah, which translates as The
Official Gazette. Soon other Arabic language newspapers were springing up in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, helping to
foster a new awareness of what it was to be an Arab. Such developments helped to foster a growing sense of Nationalism
among the people of the Middle East.
Around the same time, Greece rebelled and eventually broke free from the Ottoman Yoke. This was only the
beginning. Nationalism, which is the belief that a particular group of people sharing the same language and culture should
form an independent state, became popular in the Balkans. European powers like Russian and Britain, egger to gain an
advantage at the expense of the Ottoman Empire, supported various nationalist groups. In time, the Ottomans lost most of the
European possessions. The European powers sometimes even fought over control of Ottoman territory. During the Crimean
War from 1854-1856, Russia fought Britain, France and Sardinia for possession of Ottoman territories in the Balkans. The
governor of Egypt tried to compete with the Europeans by building the Suez Canal, thus allowing Egypt to earn money from
ships sailing through. This created a waterway for ships between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The canal was finally
completed in 1869, but at a great cost. The Egyptians had to borrow huge amounts of money from the French and British to
finish the project. In 1882, Britain used Egypts inability to pay off the debts as an excuse to invade and occupy Egypt for the
next 60 years (Re-posses it!)
The humiliations suffered by the Ottomans finally persuaded men in power to seek dramatic reforms like those first
tried in Egypt. Ali Pasha, who became the grand vizier, or prime minister, of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, launched a program of
reforms called the Tanzimat. But the demand for change only increased. Meanwhile, nationalism spread to all parts of the
Middle East. Finally, in 1908 a group of reformers called the Young Turks rebelled against the deeply conservative sultan. A
new government formed under the control of the Young Turks. Although facing enormous problems, they were determined to
bring what was left of the Ottoman Empire into the 20th Century.
Group 7: Use New Forces for Change in the Ottoman Empire and p. 449 in the purple textbook.

The government leaders of the Ottoman Empire have been humiliated after a number of defeats. What changes do they try in
an attempt to rescue their Empire/their power?

What is the end of the story for the Ottoman Empire? (what brought about their demise?)

New Forces For Change In The Ottoman Empire

The Turkish ambassador tried to repress his feelings of humiliation as the ambassador from Russia pushed the final
draft of the treaty to his side of the table. In it he read how the Ottoman Empire promised to turn almost all of the shore of the
Black sea, including the Crimean Peninsula, over to Russia. He hated to sign the document, which recorded only the latest of
the sultans losses to Russia, but he had no choice. Even as the diplomats haggled over the terms of the treaty, a Russian
army was marching towards Istanbul.
In the final years of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire became a battleground. As we
can see, Russia sought to acquire Ottoman territory along its frontier. France, too, sent Napoleon Bonaparte to invade Egypt.
The invasion failed, but it had profo9und effects. Napoleon brought with him scholars who began to study, for the first time, the
ancient remains of Egypt. They also found the Rosetta Stone, which allowed them to decipher Egyptian Hieroglyphics. They
could do this because the same text was written in both Greek and Egyptian hieroglyphics on the stone.
For the people of the Middle East, Napoleons invasion impressed upon them the superior technological capabilities
of a European Power. Before Napoleon, they still believed that they were the most sophisticated civilization in the world. The
ease with which Napoleons troops defeated the Egyptian army in the heart of the Middle East was a great shock. After
Napoleon was driven out with British help, Middle Easterners redoubled their pleases for reform and modernization.
Despairing that the Ottomans would never improve the system, Muhammad Ali (Not the boxer) the governor of Egypt,
declared Egypt independent. He began a crash program of modernization along the European lines. He set up schools of
military science, medicine, and engineering. He founded government printing presses to publish technological manuals. He
also began to publish the first Arab-language newspaper in 1828 called al-Waqai al-Misriyyah, which translates as The
Official Gazette. Soon other Arabic language newspapers were springing up in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, helping to
foster a new awareness of what it was to be an Arab. Such developments helped to foster a growing sense of Nationalism
among the people of the Middle East.
Around the same time, Greece rebelled and eventually broke free from the Ottoman Yoke. This was only the
beginning. Nationalism, which is the belief that a particular group of people sharing the same language and culture should
form an independent state, became popular in the Balkans. European powers like Russian and Britain, egger to gain an
advantage at the expense of the Ottoman Empire, supported various nationalist groups. In time, the Ottomans lost most of the
European possessions. The European powers sometimes even fought over control of Ottoman territory. During the Crimean
War from 1854-1856, Russia fought Britain, France and Sardinia for possession of Ottoman territories in the Balkans. The
governor of Egypt tried to compete with the Europeans by building the Suez Canal, thus allowing Egypt to earn money from
ships sailing through. This created a waterway for ships between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The canal was finally
completed in 1869, but at a great cost. The Egyptians had to borrow huge amounts of money from the French and British to
finish the project. In 1882, Britain used Egypts inability to pay off the debts as an excuse to invade and occupy Egypt for the
next 60 years (Re-posses it!)
The humiliations suffered by the Ottomans finally persuaded men in power to seek dramatic reforms like those first
tried in Egypt. Ali Pasha, who became the grand vizier, or prime minister, of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, launched a program of
reforms called the Tanzimat. But the demand for change only increased. Meanwhile, nationalism spread to all parts of the
Middle East. Finally, in 1908 a group of reformers called the Young Turks rebelled against the deeply conservative sultan. A
new government formed under the control of the Young Turks. Although facing enormous problems, they were determined to
bring what was left of the Ottoman Empire into the 20th Century.