Modernization in the Ottoman Military School During Sultan Abdulhamid II Period: “An Assessment of Debates Between Modernist and Traditional Officers”

Loss of former glory of the Ottoman Empire on the battlefields since the seventeenth century had led statesmen to think about the army. For the revive of the military institutions some innovations had been made periodically since 1600s. One of the most important reforms is the opening of new schools in the field of military education. New schools had started to open, but some of them were short-lived. Ottoman Military College is one of the first school that established and preserved to provide western style education. As Ottoman Military College is one of the first school that implemented western style education, at the same time it is the bearer of new style education. This new school structure, which has a more secular educational program, is different from other schools in terms of teaching staff and training program. At the same time, the student who are studying at these institutions mentally have a different structure than the students who are studying at classical educational institutions. In this respect, Ottoman Military College represents a new mental world with a new class of officers. When Ottoman Military College students who are studied with western educators, and students who go to west to complete their education began to serve in the Ottoman Armies, they clash with regimental officers who are representatives of traditionalist thinking. the conflict between modernist-traditionalist officers were not only a conflict between two class of officers but also a quarrel between current order and advocate of modernization.

Keywords

Ottoman Military School, Officer, Modernization, Mental Revolution, Modernist, Traditionalist