Muslim Lands Fall to Imperialist Demands

1. Muslim Lands Fall to Imperialist Demands Chapter 27: Section 3

2. 1. Death of Suleiman I • A series of weak rulers destroyed the political unity of the Empire. • With this weakening, the economy began to collapse – currency was devalued, unemployment rose, and the different nationalities began to fight both their Turkish masters and each other.

3. 1. continued • The Janissaries resisted attempts to update the armies. • Janissaries: Originally made up of captured Christians, these were the elite corps of the Sultans armies. There is no equivalent in modern armies – because captured people do not always make the most loyal soldiers • The newer rulers continued a habit of Suleiman I – kill off anyone competent enough to challenge the Emperor (see page 446/7)

4. 2. Rise of Nationalism

5. 3. Geopolitics Dardanelles Straits • Geopolitics: An interest in taking land over for its location, products, or other benefits gained from its placement on the globe. Oil Suez Canal Greece

6. 3 & 4 • The oil discovered in Kirkuk and Mosul (Modern Iraq) attracted both the British and Russians • The area around Suez was a prime place for a canal that would make it easier for the British to trade with and control India – their most lucrative colony by the late 1850s (Its construction in 1889 took 2 weeks off the trip and saved 4,000 miles)

7. Discovery of Oil in Persia • Persia didn’t have enough money to develop their own oil fields – the needed foreign investors to do it. • As more foreign money came in, so did foreign influence and control.

8. Oil in Persia Continued. • This control began to become complete. • By 1914 – The beginning of World War I – Britain and Russia virtually controlled the country.