Short Write

Short Write: What are the advantages and

disadvantages of instituting the Tanzimat reforms (150 - 200 words)

Homework: Research and respond to the

following: Assess the contribution of the

Ottoman Empire in the outbreak of the Crimean War

IB Markschemes/Former Test QuestionsMarkscheme/ Former Test Questions:

Generally: Why did this all happen?

Student investigatory focus: Classify all evidence responding to the following topic questions:

To what extent were communal tensions responsible for the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War of 1860?

Assess the significance of religious tensions in creating instability in Lebanon which led to Civil War in 1860?

To what extent did Lebanon achieve autonomy as a consequence of the 1861 Settlement?

Analyze the nature and extent of internal and external conflicts confronting Lebanon in the post-Civil War period.

To what extent were tensions which led to the Lebanese Civil War in 1860 resolved by the conflict itself and the settlement which followed?

Lebanese Civil War - 1860

Focus:

Levels of Ottoman control

Communal Tensions and Civil War (1860)

Extent of autonomy after 1860

In 1860, modern day Lebanon was part of the Ottoman province – Syria

Rule: Egypt

Who will fill the political power vacuum? The Players:

Ottoman Empire Druze SunniShia Christian (Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Greek

Catholic) * (as well as, Jews – though not powerful enough to

be reckoned with) Sunni Shia division: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQdhmsw-hvc

Ottoman Empire

Lebanese Syria

The Civil War of 1860: Trigger 1860:   On 9th of July, 1860, a mainly Druze mob of

20,000-50,000 from the Mydan, and Salheya districts of Damascus attacked, killed and pillaged the Christian Quarter and its inhabitants.

Damascus District Map

Photograph: Maronite Christain Quarter after July 9th

4 Essentials to understanding pre Civil War Lebanon

Religious groups/enclaves within unique landscape

Economic disparity between peasants and landlords (Maronite vs Druze)

Political misrule/weakness of the declining and ever aggressed Ottoman Empire (still reeling from the Crimean War, Ali Pasha’s territorial ambitions

Desire for western intervention

Internal Factors

Economic Religious Political Social

External Factors

Influence of the Ottomans loosely governing province of Syria (with its Lebanese citizens)

British predatorial imperialism French predatorial imperialism Meddlesome foreign interests (GB,

FR, Russia) Sought trade and natural resource

access Russian imperial containment

TO ANSWER A QUESTION ON LEBANON IN 19th CENTURY, YOU MUST AT THE VERY LEAST, HAVE THE FOLLOWING 6 ELEMENTS AT YOUR DISPOSAL:

 

(i) remember the name of the country, the name of the Empire of which it was a part (Mount Lebanon; Ottoman Empire);

(ii) remember the date of the civil war (1860);

(iii) remember the name of the settlement that concluded it.

(iv) remember that Lebanese society was made up of 5 religious groups:

Druze, Maronite Christians, Sunni and Shia Muslims.

(v) You must also be able to say something about the elements in Lebanese society which allowed for these groups to live peacefully together.

(vi) You must be able to say something about the influence of external powers on Lebanon.

 

Notes on Lebanon (1820-1914) In 19th century, Lebanon was a part of Greater Syria,

which included Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan, all of which was itself a part of the Ottoman Empire, but which had achieved some autonomy from the Ottoman Empire.

  In 1800, within Greater Syria, about a quarter of a million

people lived in the area known as Mount Lebanon.

This area consisted mainly of the mountainous regions. It was where religious dissidents went to get away from central power. They had developed ways in which to live together quite harmoniously

It was governed by what has been called ‘the politics of the notables’ – intermediaries between the locals, and the Ottoman governor and Istanbul.

Notes on Lebanon (1820-1914) Essentially, the various ways in which political

power was enacted was a main cause of the rebellion in the Ottoman Empire.

Simply put, governments and territorial mismanagement, just as in the Mediterranean Empires preceding it, fostered fragmentation

Thus, the Lebanese Civil War exemplifies and compounds understanding of the causes for Ottoman decline.

Lebanese Civil War is microcosm of reasons for decline

The “politics of the notables”

The Tanzimat reforms, such as the Imperial Rescript – inspired by regular proximity to European Powers and desire to modernize (despite secularization) with alternate agendas (also referred to as “ulterior motives”) eroded the political force of “the notables.”

Thus, local power brokers lose legitimacy and control

Then “politics of the notables”

(CLUE: the various ways in which political power was enacted was a main cause of the rebellion in the Ottoman Empire. Simply put, governments and territorial mismanagement, just as in the Mediterranean Empires preceding it, fostered fragmentation)

Thus, the Lebanese Civil War exemplifies and compounds understanding of the causes for Ottoman decline

General Complications

Tanzimat Reforms (particularly Land Code of 1858) Rise of Maronite economic and political power

- take advantage of and favored by European business interests - alliance with Syrian governor – Emir Bashir II (Shihab)- Druze political power declines

Syrian factionalism - Jumblatt faction (Druze)- Shihab faction (Christian Maronite)

Maronite migration into Druze regions “Notable” Druze (Jumblatt) vs. Syrian Governor (Emir

Bashir – friend of the Maronites) Why, based on the aforementioned do you think that the

Syrian governor developed ties with the Maronites?

Complications

Since 1820s, Maronite and Druze undergo violent conflict

Bashir sides with Marnites and suppresses Druze

Druze become formidable adversaries to Bashir’s authority

Bashir allies with Ibrahim Pasha (seeker of Syrian governance as directed by father – Muhammad Ali)

Bashir rules under protection of French

Complications

Economic disparity due to Maronite success, Emir’s/governors favor.

Maronites turn to economic opportunities provided by European powers doing business in the Levant

From 1830s on – Port of Beirut expands

Ottomans needed exports to sell in Europe

Desire for export commodities on the part of the Ottomans

Complications

So, how to meet the need for export wealth?

Ottoman “notables” begin to bring more tracts of land under cultivation

Wheat, barley, other commodities are sought to fill void in export market

Enter: The Tanzimat Land Code of 1858

Complications: The Tanzimat Land Code of 1858

Prior to 1858, land in Ottoman Syria, part of the Ottoman Empire since 1516, was cultivated or occupied mainly by peasants.

Land ownership was regulated by people living on the land according to customs and traditions.

Usually, land was communally owned by village residents, though land could be owned by individuals or families

Complications: The Tanzimat Land Code of 1858

In 1858 the Ottoman Empire introduced The Ottoman Land Code of 1858

required land owners to register ownership.

The reasons behind the law were twofold. (1) to increase tax revenue, and ▪ (2) to exercise greater state control over the area.▪ Peasants, however, saw no need to register claims,

for several reasons

Complications: The Tanzimat Land Code of 1858

Why peasant dislike of Tanzimat Land Code?

1. land owners were subject to military service in the Ottoman Army2. general opposition to official regulations from the Ottoman Empire3. evasion of taxes and registration fees to the Ottoman Empire

The registration process itself was open to misregistration and manipulation.

Land collectively owned by village residents ended up registered to one villager, and

Merchants and local Ottoman administrators took the opportunity to register large areas of land to their own name.

Complications: The Tanzimat Land Code of 1858

Result: Land that became the legal property

of people who had never lived on the land

Peasants, having lived there for generations, retained possession, but became tenants of absentee owners

Does this sound familiar?

Complications: The Tanzimat Land Code of 1858

Some peasants buy and register land in the name of “notables” thinking they will be taken care of

Enter: Muhammad Ali Pasha (First Turko-Egyptian War/First Egyptian – Ottoman War)

Egypt in Syria

First Turko-Egyptian War (also referred to as Egyptian – Ottoman War)

Muhammad’s son Ibrahim invades for having been denied Syria

1831-1840 Ibrahim Pasha rules Syria Europeans, particularly Britain, force

Ibrahim out – 1840 Political power vacuum results Mount Lebanon undergoes civil strife

and conflict for 20 years

Rule: Egypt

Who will fill the political power vacuum? The Players:

Ottoman Empire Druze SunniShia Christian (Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Greek

Catholic) * (as well as, Jews – though not powerful enough to

be reckoned with) Sunni Shia division: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQdhmsw-hvc

Ottoman Empire

Rule:

Each religious faction PLUS European powers & Russia are vying for control in the region.

Ottoman’s introduce Bashir III as Governor

Bashir III struggles to maintain stability Christians are periodically massacred by

the Druze As advised by European powers:

Ottomans propose division of Mt. Lebanon

Ottoman Empire

Rule:

The division of Mt. Lebanon ▪ known as the double Qa’

imaqamate▪ Two communities are too

mixed – impractical▪ Result: in attempt to

separate Maronite North from Druze South direct clashes fill the years of 1841-1845

▪ In 1845 = outright Civil War

Ottoman Empire (w/ European influence)

Rule:

The Europeans encouraged the Ottomans to bring it to an end.

Solution profferred by Ottoman Foreign Minister, Shakib Effendi as a way of recognizing how complex

Lebanese society was, he allowed for the representation of each sect (Maronites, Druze, Sunni, Shi’ite, Greek Orthodox, greek Catholic) on each of the two councils of the Qa’imaqamate.

Ottoman Empire (w/ European influence)

Rule:

They were assisted by deputies in both districts (north and south).

They tried to introduce representative councils, but 1858 put an end to this

1850 : anti-Chrstian riots in Aleppo 1856 : anti Christian riots in Nablus

1858: the Kisrwan rebellion dealt this a mortal blow (showing that there was still no effective centralised political power)

1858 started in the North as Maronite peasants against Maronite muqata’ajis (landowners), but ended up in south as Maronite peasants against their Druze landlords.

Ottoman Empire (w/ European influence)

Rule:

1860: Maronites defeated, loads killed, 100,000 refugees.

1860 July – it spread to Damscus. 5-10,000 Christians were massacred.

(this was also partly caused by Muslim hostility to Christians)

This brought in the French army. Napoleon III had to appease French Catholic public.

1860: Civil War erupted.

(there was a distinct lack of a viable political system. French support for Maronites turned it into a struggle for ultimate political control.

Ottoman Empire w/ Euro Influence

Possible resource

https://books.google.com/books?id=K5qJfJngEO4C&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=muqata%E2%80%99ajis&source=bl&ots=4fd7vLoIfm&sig=p8A0triYRPX2JgWMr7aQlOhSJmQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=sDeQVNO8IIK0sASOg4D4Dw&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=muqata%E2%80%99ajis&f=false