Frontiers in th Fate of the Ottoman Empire

Abstract

The article examines the role of border territories in the fate of the Ottoman Empire. The study of the frontier of the Ottoman Empire is relevant, as it makes it possible to realize the development of the empire throughout its existence. Special attention is paid to the consideration of the main phases of changing the boundaries of the empire. The authors identify four main phases and describe each of them. The authors carefully consider the second phase of changing the borders of the Ottoman Empire, which peaked in the first half and the middle of the sixteenth century, when the borders of the empire reached their maximum size and territories with twenty-five million people were under the control of the Ottomans. The authors indicate the reasons why there was both an increase and a decrease in the Ottoman frontiers. In addition, the article describes the types of provincial government that differed, with the constant change of borders. The authors describe the degrees of autonomy granted to the various provinces, as well as the ways in which taxes and duties were collected, which differed in different parts of the empire. The conclusion drawn in this article is that throughout its existence, the Ottoman frontiers were constantly changing, which was associated with certain factors, such as: changing the key goals of the sultans, the degree of training of troops, the use of the results of technological progress, the situation in the international arena.