Changes

The Russians were the first in challenging the Ottoman empire in the Russian attempt to gain access to the Mediterranean Sea through the Black Sea.  In 1853 the Russians fought the Ottoman empire in the Crimean War.  The British and French fought on the side of the Ottomans, however, and they defeated the Russians.  But the Russians gained alliances with Slavs in the Balkan area of the Ottoman empire, which weakened further.  The Ottoman empire continued to lose territory in the Balkans and northern Africa, and was only a shell of its original power by the beginning of World War I.  Western technology had far outpaced Muslim know-how.

The Russians were the first in challenging the Ottoman empire in the Russian attempt to gain access to the Mediterranean Sea through the Black Sea.  In 1853 the Russians fought the Ottoman empire in the Crimean War.  The British and French fought on the side of the Ottomans, however, and they defeated the Russians.  But the Russians gained alliances with Slavs in the Balkan area of the Ottoman empire, which weakened further.  The Ottoman empire continued to lose territory in the Balkans and northern Africa, and was only a shell of its original power by the beginning of World War I.  Western technology had far outpaced Muslim know-how.

Muslims in Egypt, led by Muhammad Ali (not the American boxer!) and his son, Isma’il, arranged for the French to build the Suez Canal to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.  The idea of the canal was originally Napoleon’s, but he was mistakenly told that the Red Sea had an elevation too much higher than the Mediterranean Sea to make it work.  The canal opened in 1869 and the British became particularly dependent on it to avoid the long trip around the southern tip of Africa.  The British took over control of the canal (and Egypt) in 1882, when Egypt failed to repay the debts it incurred to build it.

Muslims in Egypt, led by Muhammad Ali and his son Isma’il (both discussed above), arranged for the French to build the Suez Canal to connect the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.  The idea of the canal was originally Napoleon’s, but he was mistakenly told that the Red Sea had an elevation too much higher than the Mediterranean Sea to make it work.  The canal opened in 1869 and the British became particularly dependent on it to avoid the long trip around the southern tip of Africa.  The British took over control of the canal (and Egypt) in 1882, when Egypt failed to repay the debts it incurred to build it.

Britain argued with Russia over dominance in Persia (now Iran).  In 1907 they divided that region after there were riots protesting the exporting of tobacco to Britain.  When some gold was discovered in Persia in 1908, British influence increased.

Britain argued with Russia over dominance in Persia (now Iran).  In 1907 they divided that region after there were riots protesting the exporting of tobacco to Britain.  When some gold was discovered in Persia in 1908, British influence increased.