During the late 18th century, the power of the Ottoman Empire Began to decline, this is when the Eastern Question emerged. The Eastern Question in the European history refers to the political problems that came about once the Ottoman Empire started falling apart. The Eastern Questions does not refer to a particular question but refers to the many problems that came by once the Ottoman Empire declined in the 18th,19th and 20th Century. These problems were mainly on the European territories that were subjects of the Ottoman Empire; they were experiencing instabilities after the collapse of the empire.
The Question is known to come about in the end of the 18th Century, around 1774, when the Ottomans were defeated in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768 to 1774 (Clancy-Smith, Julia, and Charles 89). As the empire declined, it could be seen that the Europeans powers raced to safeguard their interests in the Ottoman Domains. These include Commercial, military, and strategic interest that they hard in the specific domains of the Ottoman Empire. Countries that stood to benefit mostly form the collapse of the Empire include the Imperial Russia, United Kingdom and Austria-Hungary. The Eastern Question is said to have ended by the end of the First World War that resulted in the collapse of the Empire.
After the demise of the Ottoman Empire, the Treaty of San Stefano was signed between the Russia and the Ottoman Empire around the years of 1887 and 1888 (Clancy-Smith, Julia, and Charles 111). In this treaty, the Russians were given a large proportion of the empire by the Ottomans in order for them to be their allies. This caused conflict as the British, French and the Austrians also demanded an equal fair share of the Empire. There was threat of wars in this instance but a diplomatic agreement was reached during the Congress of Berlin. The New Treaty of Berlin revised the Treaty of San Stefano, but peace did not last for long before other issues emerged.
Later in the years, Germany and Austria-Hungary drew closer to one another and formed another treaty in 1879, the Dual Alliance. Their main interest was to drive the British away and split the Empire among them. The Germans grew close to the Ottoman Empire and eventually took over the Ottoman financial systems and Military. Meanwhile, the British in the Entente Cordiale of 1904 resolved all conflicts with France thereby creating an ally.
The First World War of 1914 to 1918 was between two of those groups. One side included The Germans and Austria-Hungary and the other side included Russia, United Kingdom and France. After the war, the Russians, British and French emerged victorious over the Germans and Austria-Hungarians. This meant that the Russians and the British had gained control over Europe. There conflict over the division of the Ottoman Empire came to an end as this marked the end of the Ottoman Empire. Russian, England and France gained control over the territories of the Ottoman Empire hence ending the Eastern Questions (Clancy-Smith, Julia, and Charles, 178). There were no more conflicts over the ownership of the Empire as the Russians, British and French cam e to a mutual agreement over the division of the empire. Therefore, it could be said that the first world war resulted in the end of the Easters Question as the conflict of as to who would own the Empires of the Ottomans came to an as the French, British and the Russians took control over Europe after winning the war.
Osman Gazi, the father of the Ottoman Empire, was born in the town of Sogut in 1258. He was born to Ertugrul Gazi and Hayme Sultan who were leaders of his clan. He was just 23 years old when he succeeded his father in the leadership of his clan in Sogut in the year 1281. Through a dream, he saw a vision that he would end up reaping from the fruits of his labor and creating a big empire. This was his source of inspiration from them on. His leadership skills and the belief of his clans’ mates on him helped him expand his territory hence being the father of the Ottoman Empire.
In the year 1453, Mehmed II formed the quest of Constantinople, transforming the Ottoman State into a Transcontinental Power in the 15th Century. This grew the power of the Ottoman Empire greatly, and by the 16th and the 17th centuries, the Ottoman Empire under the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent became one of the most powerful states in the World.
The Capitulations refer to the contracts between the Ottoman Empires and the European powers of the moment, mainly the French. These capitulations were mainly grants made to the Christian Nations assuring their residents of proper privileges and rights in the Ottoman Empire.
Napoleon Bonaparte born in 1769; he was a French political and Military Leader who rose to power in during the later stages in the French Revolutions in Europe. He Ruled France from 1804 to 1814.
Winston Churchill, a British Politician, became the Prime Minister of United Kingdom in two instances, between 1940 60 1945 and again between 1951 and 1955. He is known as one of the greatest wartime rulers of the 20th Century.
The Suez Canal is a 101 miles artificial sea way, connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It was opened in the year 1869 shortening the distance between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.
Works Cited
Clancy-Smith, Julia A, and Charles D. Smith. The Modern Middle East and North Africa: A History in Documents. N.p., 2013. Print.
