İlber Ortaylı's The Longest Century of the Empire (İmparatorluğun En Uzun Yüzyılı in Turkish) is a historical study that examines the modernization process of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. The book analyzes topics such as the Tanzimat and Islahat Edicts, centralist reforms, and transformations in education and law, while also exploring the Empire’s relationship with the West, its struggles with nationalist movements, and the dissolution of its multinational structure. Ortaylı argues that Ottoman modernization was not solely a result of Western pressure but a process shaped by internal dynamics and the necessity for reform. By addressing the political, social, and economic transformations of the Ottoman Empire from a broad perspective, the book highlights the role of 19th-century reforms in shaping modern Turkey. It provides a foundational understanding for those interested in this field and serves as an essential entry point into the subject.
Content
İlber Ortaylı's The Longest Century of the Empire emphasizes that the modernization of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century was an inevitable transformation. Ottoman administrative elites sought to adapt to European developments by implementing reforms such as the Tanzimat and Islahat Edicts, which introduced changes in law, education, economy, and governance. However, rather than strengthening the Empire’s multinational structure, these reforms fueled nationalist movements in the Balkans and the Middle East, leading to the weakening of central authority. Ortaylı does not attribute Ottoman modernization solely to external pressures; instead, he highlights the role of internal dynamics, social change, and the state's efforts to maintain its continuity in necessitating these reforms.
The book also examines the contradictions and bureaucratic struggles encountered during the implementation of reforms. While the Tanzimat and subsequent changes expanded individual rights, the centralist structure of governance remained intact. Although Sultan Abdulhamid II’s autocratic policies interrupted constitutional governance, his investments in modern education institutions and infrastructure projects carried the Ottoman Empire into the 20th century. During the modernization process, Ottoman rulers initially aimed to adopt only technical innovations from the West, but over time, the scope of reforms expanded, leading to profound social and political changes. Consequently, varying attitudes towards Westernization emerged among different social groups within the Empire, and the disruption of traditional structures triggered significant societal reactions.
İlber Ortaylı evaluates the 19th-century Ottoman reforms as a process that laid the groundwork for modern Turkey. The Empire’s efforts to transition to constitutional governance, establish a parliament, and implement a contemporary legal system provided the foundation for the reforms of the Republic era. However, these reforms failed to preserve the Empire’s multinational structure; instead, the tension between centralist governance and demands for greater freedom contributed to the dissolution of the Empire. The book presents a comprehensive perspective on the final century of the Ottoman Empire, examining its transformation both internally and within the context of international developments, while assessing the successes and contradictions of Ottoman modernization.
