Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

Therefore, when it was deviated from its original defensive, retaliatory, and
preemptive function, corsairing lost its early noble principles.
3. 2. Technological Backwardness
Militarily and technologically, and for different raisons, Algiers failed to
adapt to the mercantile spirit which became Europe’s driving force to wealth in
late medieval and early modern periods. When Europe came out from the
darkness of the Middle Ages, the Islamic world ironically entered in a period of
decline. Where Europeans drew immense knowledge from the Islamic
civilization, the Muslims failed to build on their own heritage. The astrolabe
profited more to Europe which set out to conquer the world’s markets and raw
materials than to its Muslim inventors. For the purpose, the Europeans
developed new navigation technologies and instruments, built and armed more
powerful fleets, and pushed conquest and trade not only to the New world but
also to the very shores of Algiers. By the mid-17 th century, the Netherlands,
Great Britain, and France launched a race for armament which culminated in
the emergence of powerful fleets that surpassed that of Algiers. 105 By the end
of the century, 80 to 100-guns sailing fleets were already in the making in
Europe at a time Algiers was still depending on old-type and less performing
sailing ships. By the beginning of the 18 th century, the Algerian fleet was
largely lagging behind.
105 Panzac, Corsaires Barbaresques, p. 29.
150