18th–19th centuriesReputable sourceWell documented
The Empire in Retreat
On the timeline · around 18th–19th centuries ·
What happened
Through the 18th and 19th centuries the Ottomans lost ground to Russia and Austria and to rising nationalism: Greece won independence, Egypt gained autonomy, and Balkan peoples broke away one by one.
Why it matters
As the empire fragmented, the European powers began quarreling over how to divide its lands — the so-called 'Eastern Question.'
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. The Ottoman Empire · Reputable source