The Ottoman Empire in 1900

• The Ottoman Empire was comprised of modern-day Turkey and its colonies, most of the Balkan states, African regions and territory in the Middle East
• The 1800s had witnessed an erosion of the Empires influence in the Balkans
• As the Empire began to shrink and internal problems got worse it was called ‘the sick man of Europe’, first called this by Tsar Nicholas I
• As the Empire’s collapse became more likely the Great Powers debated ‘the Eastern Question’

  ▪ Russo–Austro-Hungary rivalry in the Balkans was likely to disturb Europe’s peace ▪ Greece was the first Balkan state to declare independence

  ▪ The Treaty of Berlin recognised Serbian and Montenegrin independence
• Outside Europe the Great Powers were a bit more bold

  ▪ France seized Algeria and Tunisia

  ▪ Under the Treaty of Berlin Cyprus became part of the British Empire

  ▪ In 1882 Britain occupied Egypt