Chapter 11Section 3

European nations expanded their nations by seizing territories from Muslim states.

Political events in this vital resource area are still influenced by actions from the imperialistic period.

Europeans began to look at other places to control besides Africa.

They focused on what was left of the Ottoman Empire.◦ Land surrounding

the Mediterranean Sea.

The declining Ottoman Empire had difficulties trying to fit into the modern world.

In an effort to resist European imperialist powers, they made attempts to change.

These efforts failed. Europeans began to

look for ways to take the Ottoman’s lands.

Geopolitics – an interest in or taking of land for its strategic location or products.

Geopolitics played a huge role in the desire for the Ottoman Empire.

World powers were attracted to its strategic location.◦Access to Mediterranean Sea◦Asian countries had to cross their

land to get to the Mediterranean◦ Discovery of oil (after WWI) in

Persia and the Arabian Peninsula

In an attempt to gain land on the Black Sea, Russian czars continuously started wars with the Ottomans.

1853 – Crimean War began.◦ Russians v. Ottomans◦ Britain and France help the

Ottomans to prevent further Russian advancement.

◦ Russia lost. First war to be published in

newspapers. First war where women established

positions as army nurses.◦ Ex. Florence Nightingale

Despite the help of the British and French the Ottoman Empire continued to decline.

Based on the Ottoman Empire’s decline, some Muslim leaders felt they had no choice but to adjust to the modern world.

Egypt initiated political and social reforms, partially to block European domination.

Egypt’s location at the head of the Red Sea appeared valuable to both France and Britain.

Muhammad Ali led Egypt and initiated many reforms for their military and economy.◦ Pushed Egyptians to grow a

cash crop – cotton Peasants lost substantial land

needed to grow their food crops.

The Suez Canal was a human-made waterway that connected the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

The Suez Canal was very expensive (450 million) to build and got Egypt into great debt.

Egypt could not even pay the interest on the debt.

British occupied Egypt in 1882.

In the Muslim lands, many European imperialists gained control by using economic imperialism and creating spheres of influence.

Although some governments attempted to modernize their nations, it was usually too little too late.

In other areas of the globe, imperialists provided the modernization.