THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THE ERA OF THE REVOLUTIONARY TRANSFORMATION OF THE ANCIENT EUROPEAN SOCIETY

Abstract

The Ottoman Empire held the world stage for a period spanning more than seven centuries. Its greatness
influenced and is still reflecting in the world history, particularly in the Southeast Europe. For the period which
is object of our interest, it is important to underline the fact that great impact upon the decline was caused by the
new revolutionary ideologies from the West and Russian empire from the East. The pulses coming from Russia
with its hidden intensity of differences on religious ground, basically caused disturbances in the Empire which
ended with a many treaties in the name of the promised “peace”, which of course, did not last long enough.
During the 19th century within the enflamed passions of the Western European countries, the Ottoman Empire
with its power and dimension did not manage to lead the political scene. The fluctuating alliances resulted in the
empires “longest” century. Under the influences of the Great Powers the process of disintegration became
unstoppable. The national revolutions within the Empire became more visible and effective by decade and new
national states spawned in the Balkan Peninsula. Facing the new waves from the West influencing the national
movements based on liberal – democratic ideals, the Empire felt the need of certain reform’s in an attempt to
stabilize the political order, desperately trying to adapt its ancient heritage to a new, modern era.