The document summarizes the challenges facing the major land-based Eurasian empires of the Ottoman Empire, Russian Empire, and Qing Empire in the late 18th-19th centuries. Military expansion had weakened the empires financially and they faced problems with inefficient governance and lagging development. The Crimean and Opium Wars exposed the military weaknesses of these empires and increasing pressures from Western European powers seeking trade and territorial gains contributed to the eventual fall of all three empires. The Ottoman Empire was geographically closest to Europe and had some early reform success, while the more isolated Qing Empire resisted changes until too late.

1. Ch. 25

2.  While Western European economies were
thriving from successful industrialization and
money coming over from their overseas
colonies, the land-empires of Eurasia were
starting to fall apart.
 Old inefficient ways of governing, lack of
industrialization, population growth, and slow
agriculture development were a common
problem to all the land-based empires of
Eurasia.
 Earlier military expansion had depleted the
treasuries leaving the land-based empires
vulnerable to European military pressure.

3.  The land-based Eurasian empires either
ignored or were oblivious to the growing
European pressures and competition.
 The Crimean and Opium Wars exposed the
military weakness of the
Ottoman, Russian, and Qing empires and
repeated crises would eventually result in the
fall of all three.

4.  The Ottoman Empire faced pressure from the
British, French, and Russians who wanted less
commercial competition in the Mediterranean
as well as equality for Christians.
 The Qing Empire faced pressures from
Europeans and Americans who wanted more
trade rights and less restrictions.
 The Russian Empire faced pressure from
Britain to end their territorial expansion into
Asia which threatened Britain’s Indian
colonies.

5.  While the Ottoman and Russian Empires tried to
adapt and made attempts at political and military
reform, the Qing resisted.
 The Ottoman and Qing would eventually fall
apart from external imperialistic pressures as well
as internal civil wars.
 Russia successfully adapted and reformed and
became accepted by the rest of Europe as it now
shared many aspects of European culture.

6.  Crimean War

7.  A dispute over who was the protector of Ottoman
Christians began when the sultan gave in to W.
European pressure and gave this responsibility to
France.
 Russia protested as they had already signed a
treaty and claimed this role, but the sultan held
firm.
 Britain was already ant-Russian as they feared
Russia would interfere with their stranglehold on
India either by land or in the Mediterranean Sea.

8.  Britain and France sided with the Ottoman Empire
and with their modern weapons, defeated and
humiliated the Russians.
 After the war, declining state revenues from
agriculture yields, overpopulation, and widespread
corruption damaged Ottoman finances and the
government became increasingly dependant on
foreign loans.
 Ottoman govt. lowered taxes on European
imports, opened European banks, and allowed
Europeans to follow their own laws and be exempt
from Ottoman jurisdiction – a status known as
extraterritoriality.

9.  Russia was still viewed as an
“alien, backward, and oppressive land” by
most Western Europeans.
 Like Peter the Great, Tsar Alexander had a
major impact in the reform of Russia, but all
progress stopped when his conservative
brother Nicholas succeeded to the throne.
 Suspicious of Western ideals, Nicholas limited
education and literacy, kept peasants in
serfdom, and ignored the need to industrialize.

11.  China restricted British trade to 1 port, Canton.
 Britain had a trade deficit (imported more than
it exported) with China.
 The demand for Chinese tea in Britain forced
Britain to find another export to send to
China…Opium from India.
 China banned importing Opium.
 Britain responded with force.

12.  The Chinese were no match for British weapons
and warships.
 The Chinese had no choice but to agree to sign the
Treaty of Nanking which
 opened up 5 more ports to British trade (eventually 90)
 gave British residents in China extra rights
 extraterritoriality
 lowered taxes on British goods
 Legalized British opium trade
 forced China to pay all costs of the war
 gave Britain the island of Hong Kong.
 The Opium War marked the beginning of the
establishment of Western influence in China.

13.  The land-based empires of Eurasia were vulnerable to
the military strength and industrial wealth of Western
Europe.
 The Ottoman Empire fared well. It was
geographically close to Europe and fairly early began
reforms designed to maintain equilibrium with
Europe. Those reforms included financial and military
modernization.
 Distant from Europe, both geographically and
ideologically, the Qing Empire began reform efforts
so late and could not unite against European pressure.
 The Qing failed to see a connection between Russian
expansion and European seaborne expansion to the
southeast, and were consequently less prepared for
the European challenge.

14. 1. Decembrist Revolution
2. White Lotus Rebellion
3. Taiping Rebellion
 With your group, locate the cause and results
of the above revolution/rebellion.
 Write your findings on the board.

16. Tongzhi Restoration

18. Decembrist Revolts

19. Opium War

22.  1500’s Ottoman Empire is the strongest in the world
 Islamic Law (Shari’a) regulates daily life
 Ottomans begin to lose grip on trade (Indian Ocean)
 Inflation caused by cheap silver from the New
World
 Tax farming replaces land grants for military service
 Janisaries challenge authority and rebel
 1700’s Ottoman Empire begins to lose power to
provincial governors

23.  Muhammad Ali assumes power in Egypt after Napoleon
(1805)
 Adopted French practices, European sciences
 Strengthened the military
 Fell to British pressures to limit his army and navy, and allow trade
 Sultan Selim III (1807) reforms the Ottoman Empire
 Strengthen the military & central government
 Standardize taxation & land tenure
 1805- Janissaries revolt in Serbia
 Serbian peasants helped defeat Janissaries
 Went on to make Serbia independent
 Greece gained independence 1829
 Sultan Mahmud II lost Greece to European powers
 Britain, France, and Russia aided & regarded it as a triumph for
European civilization

24.  Peter the Great (1689-1725) brings reform to
Russia
 Peter had great visions for a warm- water port
on the Black Sea
 Peter brings social/ political reform to Russia
 Western clothing
 Western education
 Form a strong military unit
 Increase the power of the tsar
 Increase access to scientific education

25.  After Crimean War- Ottoman Empire continued to
establish secular financial and commercial
institutions on the European model.
 Effects- Shifted population from rural to urban
 Development of professional and wage laborer
classes
 Did not solve fiscal problems.
 Continued trade deficit, inflation and foreign debt
 Ottoman Empire favors European trade, laws, and
peoples

26.  1700 only 3% lived in cities
 Fear of political change hindered
westernization
 Russophobia in the West
 Russian Empire stretched to Pacific and China
 Britain took steps to halt Russia
 Reforms of Alexander I promised more then
delivered
 Opposition to reform came from the wealthy

27.  Qing conquered China in 1600’s
 Restored peace and stability
 Promoted recovery of agricultural economy
 Chinese population doubled between 1650-1800
 Many people unhappy
 Government viewed as weak & corrupt
 Series of rebellions- White Lotus rebellion
 Qing China looked to expand China’s
economic influence to Europe (tea)

28.  Treaty of Nanking and subsequent treaties
gave Westerners special privileges
 Result- colonization of small pockets of Qing
territory
 Gave most-favored-nation status to Britain
 Prevented the colonization of China

29.  Governors like Zeng Guofon looked to the U.S.
as a model
 Wanted to restore agriculture
 Reform military
 Industrialize armaments manufacture
 Reforms supported by Qing aristocrats but
unable to prevent disintegration
 Split into large power zones-provincial
governors exercised authority