Congress of Berlin

(Prompted by the Treaty of San Stefano (1878) which granted independence to Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania and concerns of Russia's growing power in the area)

Ottoman Empire was reduced in size

1. Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania became independent

2. Bosnia and Herzegovina were transferred to Austria

3. Cypress went to Great Britain

4. Several African territories were seized by France, Great Britain and Italy

then

5. 1908 Bulgaria became independent

6. 1912 Italy seized several erritories in the Aegean Sea

7. 1913 Crete was annexed by reece

Weakness of the Ottoman Empire

1. The Sultans turned over everyday governing of the Empire to lesser officials which fostered favoritism, bribery and corruption

2. Allowed the infrastructure of the empire to decline.

A. Roads, hospitals and schools began to decline. Irrigation systems were in disrepair.

3. Taxes were high.

A. Farmers farmed small plots in order to avoid taxes therefore there were shortages of food.

4. Religious differences and diversity were not tolerated and Jews and Christians were often slaughtered when they opposed the Muslim rulers. (Retaliation continues today)

5. Many different ethnic groups lived within the Ottoman Empire. Instead of nationalism being a positive force drawing the people together for the Empire it was a negative force tearing it apart because many of these groups wanted their own countries.