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The modernization process in the Ottoman Empire was a way of ensuring that they did not become the subjects of the western powers.<ref>Inalcık, H. and Quataert, D. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521343151/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521343151&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=cc66c7ad16506b01ae1292a0e287e33a An Economic and Social History of The Ottoman Empire, 1300-1914]''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994, p. 189.</ref> During the nineteenth century, much of the world became subject to the western powers, especially Britain and France. The Tanzimat reforms were only partially successful and did not halt the Ottoman decline.
====Decline of Why was the Ottoman Empire==Declining?==
[[File:Kırım_Savaşı,_Türk_piyadeleri_1854_senesi.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|Ottoman infantry soldiers]]
Until the 18th century, the Ottoman Turks were at least as powerful as the great European powers. However, from the mid-1750s, Ottomans power declined, and they could not compete militarily with Russian and the Hapsburg Empire.<ref>Qetvket Pamuk "Institutional Change and the Longevity of the Ottoman Empire, 1500–1800". ''Journal of Interdisciplinary History'', vol xxxv:2, Autumn, 2004, p.247.</ref> In successive conflicts, the armies of the Sultan, once invincible, were consistently defeated and the Empire lost territory. Their Christian adversaries slowly dismembered the Empire and that survival of the empire was threatened.<ref>Parmuk, p. 235.</ref> Just as the Ottoman military power was marginalized, their archaic economic system was becoming less viable.
These reforms sought to secure the allegiance of the diverse ethnic and religious groups of the Empire. The reforms also attempted to restrict the Sultan's power and ensure the rule of law throughout the land. There were even attempts to start a multi-party system. The Ottomans sought to emulate the more advanced western models to enable their society to modernize. The Ottoman government began to centralize authority into its own hands to ensure that the Tanzimat reforms succeeded despite Islamic religious leaders and the majority Muslim population.<ref>Attila Ayetkin, "Peasant Protest in the Late Ottoman Empire: Moral Economy, Revolt, and the Tanzimat Reforms" ''International Review of Social History''. Vol 57, August 2012, pp 191-227</ref>
====What were the Economic Changes made under the Tanzimat Reforms==?==Muslim economic theories influenced the Ottoman Empire's economy. These favored state intervention, protectionism and frowned upon the profit motive. The Ottoman reformers realized they had to liberalize the economy if they wanted to generate sufficient capital to contend with the European nations. The Tanzimat reforms attempted to introduce a series of economic and financial reforms, including the abolition of guilds, free trade, the right to private property , and a new tax system. New banks were established, despite Despite the Islamic religious elite denouncing interest payments as Riba or usury , new banks were established since it was contrary to the Koran. The Sultan and his government also moved towards the lifting of barriers on trade and abandoned protectionism.
The Ottoman government to To implement their secular projects as part of the Tanzimat Reforms, the Ottoman government established courts that oversaw economic regulation. The Napoleonic Trade Laws were adopted from the 1850s.<ref>Hanioglu, M. Sukru. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691146179/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0691146179&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=0f59e5dcf94fb5c39ee9efb78a011bf7 A Brief History of the Late Ottoman Empire]'' (Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2008), p. 141. </ref> The Islamic courts still issue decrees on Sharia Law, both in urban and tribal areas, but increasingly they were unable to arbitrate in the areas of economic regulation. These changes were all designed to develop the Ottoman Economy.
The changes made were all based on the western model. This shift was partly because the Ottoman Caliph sought to replicate the Western governments' policies of the western governments to become as powerful as they had in recent decades.<ref>Jason Goodwin, ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312420668/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312420668&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=dce09584fbe6824c3500d532ee9fd797 Lords of the Horizons: A History of the Ottoman Empire]''. (Penguin Books, Hamondsworth,2003, p. 189.</ref>
==Did the Tanzimat Reforms Fail?==
It should be noted that while Banks were established and modern economic practices were introduced the majority for the population were not impacted upon. The rights of individual citizens were technically improved, but in reality, the Sultan still had almost unlimited power over his subjects. Furthermore, the Sultan remained the absolute rule of the Empire. The reforms had changed the Empire, but it had failed to modernize the realm. The Ottomans had not modernized their country, and they remained behind their European neighbors. Instead, they continued to lose territory in the Balkans to their European neighbors.
====Conclusion====The Ottoman Government government was forced to adopt economic reforms to ensure that it had sufficient resources to compete with the western powers. They adopted modernizing and secularizing policies to transform the economy. The reforms were radical and contrary to the Muslim ethos of the Empire and the Islamic scholars. The Ottoman Government government was able to impose its will on an often reluctant population, as it bid to make the changes necessary to ensure the survival of the Empire. The reform projects were only partially successful as they failed to modernize the realm and ensure its survival beyond World War I.
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