Economic Condition

• The Empire's geographical location, on lucrative trading routes with India and China, meant it remained a significant trading partner during the 1800s
• There was little effort, however, to modernise industry
• In the 1890s Germany’s increased interest in Turkey led to the plans of a Berlin-Bagdad railway, this ‘opening up’ of the Ottoman Empire for foreign investment highlighted its economic inferiority compared to the other Great Powers
• After the Crimean War the Ottoman economy was heavily in debt to British and French creditors, who had lent the empire money in order for them to arm their soldiers