Reform movements in the Ottoman Empire at the second half of XVIIIth century

Since its establishment, the Ottoman Empire was in constant development and reform efforts. Mustafa III, succeed to the Ottoman throne at the second half of the XVIII. century, had these reform efforts continued, tried to eliminate the negative developments in the life of the Ottoman state and society, and togive the state the former strong position. Mustafa III continued the traditional reforms by following the foot steps of his predecessors, however, the war began with Russia in 1768 and the conclusion of this war with defeats caused him move to wards the West in military and technical areas. Largestaid to Mustafa III on reforms camefrom Grand Vizier Ragıb Mehmed Pasha and the Baron de Tott.During this period, Mustafa III and Ragıb Mehmed Pasha took peace as a principle against foreign states and continued these traditional reforms in the peace atmosphere. Ratherthan war and alliance treaties, friend ship and trade agreements were tried to be made with foreign states. Safety and security of the country were tried to be maintained and the situation of provinces were tried to be corrected. Importance was given to take regularly and fair taxes in the financial field and to connecting foundation as setstostrict orders, and confusions in currencies were tried to be solved. It was tried to give life again to Humbaracı Ocağı in the military field, and by rear ranging the naval arsenal, some ships were tried to be turnedin to the sail. Tomeet the need for fire wood of Istanbul and lumber of yard, Sakarya River is planned to be connected to the Gulf of Izmit over Lake Sapanca. Activities such as over coming Istanbul's subsistence shortages, re-zoning the city deva stated by fire and earthquakes, encouraging the local industry and the use of domestic goods were the major reforms under taken by the Sultan and Grand Vizier.During this period, Baron de Tott, due to his services in the military field, became one of the important names in the policy of regeneration of the Ottoman Empire and opening to the West, and a newera began in the technological and cultural contacts of Ottoman Empire with Europe. Baron de Tott, tried to make many important reforms in the Ottoman army such as regulation of Gallipolifortification, improvement of artillery production, dumping of slightguns, the establishment of new artillery gun factory, arrangement and construction of the for tresses of the Bosphorus, the construction of the bridge boatsand cars, establishment of artillery school.Abdulhamid I wanted to continue thereformsinitiated in his brother Mustafa III Period, and tried to carryout some reform studies in this area with domestic and foreign people. To finance the treasury deficit and war expenses, stock implementation was started, and to ensure safety and security of the country, levend corps were removed and arrangements were made in timar system. Under the supervision of Baron de Tott, Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Hümâyûn was founded to train qualified captains and personel for the navy needs. The Algerian Gazi Hasan Pasha wanted some rear rangements fornavy, and new ship yards and ships were built with the help of foreign experts. Seyyid Mehmed Pasha tried to reform the pen organization, gave importance to education of humbaracı and artillery corps, and set up a room at Bab-i Ali where translations of some newspapers, published in Europe, were made. In this period, the most comprehensiveinnovations were made by Halil Hamid Pasha and sign ificantdisruptions in the life Ottoman state and society were tried to be solved. Hamid Pasha tried to raise the nationalin come by making reforms in the agricultural field. Tostrength the Ottoman army, French, British and Swedish experts were used, and navy tried to be improved with Janissary Corpse specially, timarlı sipahiler, speed artillery, and humbaracı corps. Mühendishane-i Bahri-i Hümâyûn was rear ranged and the firstcore of Mühendishane-i Berri-i Hümâyûn was form edunder the administration of foreign experts.Selim III, who ascended the throne after Abdülhamid I, did not seewell the situation of the Ottoman Empire and distinctly separated from his predecessors, embarked on a series of reform movement in all areas. These reforms were called Nizam-i Jadid. During this period, attention was given again to the military area, and besides Janissary Corps, the Nizam-i Jadid Corps was established. In order to address the needs of the army and finance thereforms, a new treasure, called İrâd-ı Jadid, was established, and to meet the army officer needs of the Nizam-i Jadid, a newschool, called Mühendishane-i Berri-i Hümâyûn, was established. In addition, new laws were issued for the traditional Ottoman corps; humbaracı, lağımcı and artillery, and there formation of corps was tried to be made with experts brought from foreign countries. Important refroms were performed in this period at the Ottoman navy, and a very large number of new ships were built.In this period, important reforms were made in areas other than the military area, the first permanent embassies were opened in Europe, the country's administrative division was made, and new laws were issued to regulate the commercial and social life. But, especially the janissaries, including some government officials, reacted to wards the sereforms. Nizam-i Jadid period was lasted with Mustafa Kabakci Rebellion in 1807 and Selim III was killed after a short period of time.Reform movements in the period of Selim III were more conscious, planned, and scheduled as compared with the previous ones. Selim III believed that reforms were necessary in all areas, particularly in military, and made important reform movements by acting with this mind. Despite Selim III thoughts that reforms were necessary in all areas, his reforms were not made in western style. It is possible to say that he was influenced in military area by the west. However, it is seen that he was not beyond the traditional reforms like his predecessors as weanalyze his reforms at administrative, social, commercial and economic life. Selim III did not see westernization necessary in all areas, but look edevents as a western and believed that reforms were needed in all areas. His reforms had great impacts on the succeeding reforms and reformers.