The Ottoman Millet System and Its Relationship with Nationalism

In this article, the difference between nationalism and the Ottoman millet system is emphasized and origin of the millet system was discussed. There were many ethnic societies and sects in the Ottoman Empire. Different religion (Islam, Christianity, Jewish), sect and ethnic origin were governed through the millet system. The millet system applied in the Ottoman Empire which takes its roots from the practices in the history of Islam. In the Ottoman Empire, the millet system, which refers to the rule of those who belong to the same religion (sect) was first applied during the period of Conqueror Sultan Mehmet. Through the millet system, religious communities were taken under control and order was established. Communities who belonging to different religions and sects were governed by their leaders (congregation heads). Leaders also had status of civil servants and they were responsible for their community. Since 1789, the nationalism movement, which spread from France to Europe separated the ethnic groups that considered their interests in the Ottoman Empire one by one. The relationship between nationalism and the millet system emerged at this point. As nationalist movements revived and the millet system weakened. The article aims to reveal the process of the collapsing of the millet system in the Ottoman Empire. The measures taken by the Ottoman Empire against the separatist movements and the failure of the measures were discussed in the axis of nationalism. The study also aimed to reveal the originality of the Ottoman millet system by emphasizing relation between the Ottoman millet system and nationalism. Archive and literature scanning techniques were used.

Keywords

Political science, Ottoman Empire, religion, millet system, nationalism