<strong>Ozean</strong> Journal of Social Sciences 2(3), 2009ISSN 1943-2577© 2009 <strong>Ozean</strong> PublicationOTTOMAN MODERNIZATION AND EFFECTSOF THE TANZIMAT EDICT ON TODAY(November 3, 1839)Zabit ACERDumlupinar University, Vocational School of Kütahya, Kutahya, TurkeyAbstract: Turkish Occidentalization Movements implies some innovations in applied culture and techniques.The innovative values of Western culture, wasn‟t immediately accepted by the intellectuals and the commonpeople. Occidentalization Movements started exactly together with the administrative reports and the superiorityof the Europe was accepted. Because the reforms before the administrative reforms were including traditionalismand Islamic principles, but the innovations after the administrative reforms were formed by the model of Europe.The innovations taken by the administrative reforms were mostly in favor of non-Islamic. During this period,Ottoman Empire found out that he had to have some innovations by abolishing some institutions which had lostits effectiveness instead of counterfeiting the Europe at random. Some compulsory and permanent amendmentswere formed by these innovations. It was aimed that giving birth to the state by the improvements done by theEuropean model. By intending the joining together and corporation thought, “Ottoman Citizenship” was aimed.By the administrative reforms appeared by the 1830 Revolutions in Europe, there had been a turning point of theOttoman Empire‟s modernization and there had been various amendments that its effects are seen today,commonly in the field of education. Municipality and archives movements were some important modelsdeveloped during that period. Lack of some innovations by taking into consideration of some national benefitsand not seeing the real purposes of the European countries‟ proposals had obstructed our benefits from theinterests brought by the administrative reforms. In spite of some officers had sent to Anatolia and Europe todescribe the administrative reforms, common people couldn‟t comprehend the circumstances and these reformscouldn‟t be succeeded. In one hand there had been some political and social innovations in the western style, inthe other hand there had been some other innovations for the army and education. The most important additionof the administrative reforms to the Turkish history was the education of the first intellectual staff and then thefirst step had been taken for the realization of constituonal regime.Key Words: Innovation, Cultere, Modernization, Occidentalization.INTRODUCTIONTurkish westernization movements include some applied renovations in cultural and technical areas. The Westculture‟s values which are new to us haven‟t been accepted immediately by intellectuals and the public. It wasaccepted that Westernization movements started absolutely with the Tanzimat. This beginning started with theedict known as the Imperial Edict of Gulhane (November 3, 1839), revealed important changes in the areas ofeducation, culture, philosophy, law, literature and society. In the Tanzimat Edict, from that time backward a onehundred fifty years review of the Ottoman State against the West was discussed and it was stated about problemsthe State lived. The most intensive critiques to the Tanzimat and westernization movements focused on that theserenovation movements were realized in consequence of the pressure of the West and were not so imperative.(İhsanoğlu 1999: 195)Superiority of Europe was accepted with this edict. Because in the reforms made prior to the Tanzimat while itwas conformed to the principles of traditionalism and commitment to Islamic principles, Europe was taken asmodel in renovations performed after the Tanzimat. “The State concept, bureaucratic organization, army,education, commercial and penal laws and even partly the court organization were changed according to theirEuropean samples.” As a result, a duality within the State occurred almost in every area. (Türkler 12/2: 356)189
The last one of principles of providing the safety of life, goods and chastity, abolishing mistaken applications inthe land tenure system and applying courts equally to people of every religion that take place in the Edict quitehurt Muslim people‟s feelings. Because the superiority of Muslims over infidels had lodged perennially untilnow both in traditions and in morals. To make them equal to each others was perceived an action made againstdiscreation. (Lewis 1993: 107)Innovations the Tanzimat brought mostly became in favour of Non-Muslims. Christian minorities got a greatquantity of wealth by benefiting from the edict. Especially their becoming exempted from military serviceprovided them to grow rich economically and socially. (Ayverdi 1993: 315)1. Proclamation Process of the Tanzimat EdictIn the Ottoman state, the Tanzimat concept was used in the meaning of arranging, improving and reviewing theexisting State structure. The Ottoman State, with the proclamation of the Tanzimat Edict, made reforms inadministrative, civil, military and social areas that this term was called “the Tanzimat Term”. (Hayta 1999: 9)The Tanzimat movements are scheduled renewal and culture movements which were performed being inspiredfrom Europe, to bring a western style thought and management model to the Ottoman. This program started insultanate years of Mahmut II and its being more comprehensive happened with the effect of Mustafa ReshidPasha in the term of Abdulmecid. The Tanzimat Edict was announced to the people in Gulhane by MustafaReshid Pasha. The purpose of this edict can be summarized as preventing European States from intervening ininternal affairs of the Ottoman State, providing closeness with European States and saving the State fromregression by taking help from them in the Mehmed Ali Pasha Rebellion.The Ottoman State, in regression term, understood that it was necessary for him to make important renovationsby abolishing old and dysfunctional institutions instead of copying them slavishly to be able to survive againstEuropean States. In this sense the Tanzimat term differed from previous terms. While renovations made until thisterm were in military area, renovations in social, administrative and legal areas were made with the Tanzimat.The first and most important step of the realization of constitutional order was taken and so first in this term thesultan limited himself even if it is one-sided. To change administrative structure in the western style was aimed.Performed reforms revealed an irreversible situation through this edict. (Hayta 2003: 119)The Tanzimat innovations brought important obligatory and perennial changes in the State management.(Türkler 12/2: 355) The most important innovation the Tanzimat Edict brought to the Ottoman State is theformation of law force. Namely the sultan accepted through the Tanzimat the existence of a power above hisown power. This wasn‟t an agreement made with the people and could be accepted as the starting ofconstitutionalism.The Tanzimat term is one of the most important milestones of the Turkish history and which starts from 1839and continues until 1876 and the effects of which are felt also today. The Ottoman State was not able to show itsold successes against Europe as of late 16 th century and started to make reforms by the aim of removing a varietyof numerous problems. While Europe improved continuously through Renaissance and geographical discoveries,the Ottoman was not able to refresh itself. As of the second half of 18 th century, it accepted military superiorityof Europe, started to lose its lands. The Ottoman accepting the superiority of Europe wanted to benefit fromscience and technologies of Europe by sending embassies and knowing them more closely. That Tulip Termrenovation movements finished with the Patrona Halil Rebellion and then European States urged Non-Muslimcitizens quite wore the Ottoman State. The State all institutions of which corrupted looked for cures to be able tosave from this situation it fell into. Although Selim III looked for permanent solutions to be able to save fromthis situation and started the Nizam-ı Cedid (a modern army) renovations, this term ended with the KabakçıMustafa Rebellion. In the term of Sultan Mahmut II, internal and external problems became inextricable. Afterthe inducement of other minorities in consequence of concessions given to Serbians in 1812, Muslim peopleneeded to migrate from the Balkans to Anatolia. With the Venice Congress, the East Issue clearly becameappear. The rebellion of Mora, giving independence to Greece, living the Navarin Event, giving autonomy toWallachia and Moldavia and the Mehmed Ali Pasha Rebellion put the Ottoman State on the very spot. As aresult of that Mehmed Ali Pasha arrived to Konya, the Ottoman wished help from Russia. For that reason,Austria, England and France interfered in this matter and Kütahya Agreement was done signed between theOttoman State and Mehmed Ali Pasha. Therefore internal problem of the Ottoman State became politicalproblem of Europe also with interventions of European States. European States started to state their views notonly in military and political areas but also in social, juridical and economic areas. They even started to make190