Blog #14

NPR - Ottoman Empire

This program focused on the troubled history of the middle east and the west. The narrator starts off by stating that for centuries after the crusades, the Europeans constantly referred in regard with the conflicts with the people of the middle east as, "the Turks" not, "the Arabs." He then gives a brief background of the Ottoman empire starting with their expansion out of central Asia during the fourteenth century. They next go into detail about the fortress Rumelli Hassari, and how it looks today in modern Turkey. A highway connects the European side to the Asian side, while oil tankers and water barges roam the waters below. After stating the modern uses of the Rumelli Hassari, which is now a museum, the narrator goes on to why the fortress was originally established. The Rumelli Hassari was originally built by the Ottoman Empire during its expansion into Europe in order to prepare for and execute an assault on the Byzantine capital of Constantinople. The next topic is about Sultan Mehmed II (the conqueror). In April 1453, Mehmed was able this heavily fortified city in 2 months. The narrator refers to this victory as so symbolic, and politically important that it was truly the beginning of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire's conversion to Islam occured centuries before the capture of Constantinople. However, as the Ottoman Empire expanded to Syria, Egypt and Throughout the Middle East and Europe, only then did the Ottoman Empire begin the control of Islams most holy cities. These were the cities of Mecca and Medina. The narrator explains how the leaders of the Ottoman Empire were pius, and looked at as throughout the Arab world as successors of the Caliphate. However, the narrators recognize the Ottoman Empire as a highly expansionist empire, and aimed to be the most powerful empire of the Meditteranean. The Ottomans biggest rival during their time of expansion was the Hapsburg Empire, ruled by Charles the V. This Empire linked Spain and the Netherlands with the Austrian territories. In 1529, Suleymans Empire attacked Vienna and were stalled, never to advance any further.. This was due to distance, weather and military capabilities at the time. The army could not reach their destinations and had poor timing. They were never able to succesfully start a campaign which required them to be withdrawn by the fall. In the mid 16th century, the narrator explains that military battle took the sea. In one major battle, hundreds of ships on both sides were involved along with thousands of sailors. This may have been the turning point in the Ottoman Empire, according to the narrators. The most interesting claim of the report has to do with the significance of religious leaders, whose goals had nothing to do with religion. From the European point of view, the Ottoman empire was seen as "just another Muslim onslaught." From the Ottoman perspective they saw value in spreading their religion, but considered their empire more European then Middle Eastern. In addition to this, most of their population was actually christian, not muslim.