Citizens and Subjects: Human Rights in the Ottoman Empire

Transcription

1 Citizens and Subjects: Human Rights in the Ottoman Empire By Lisa Adeli (CMES Outreach Coordinator, High School Social Studies Teacher, PhD in History) 1

2 Background Concept of legal guarantees of human rights began in the Middle East (ancient Persia). Guarantees of human rights within the Muslim religion 2

3 Cyrus the Great Cylinder: The world s first declaration of human rights (Persia/Iran, 550s BC) 3

4 4

5 The Ottoman Empire ( ) Long-lasting + covering a large geographical area = historically significant Important repercussions in modern times (Balkans) Examination across time of the ideology and practice of human rights. 5

6 Justin McCarthy, The Map Project, MESA 6

7 Largest minority in the Ottoman Empire: Christians. Orthodox Christians (majority of Balkan peoples Romanians, Serbs, Macedonians, Greeks, etc.) Catholics (e.g. Bosnia and Croatia) Armenian and Arab Christians (Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, etc.) 7

8 Graćanica, a 14 th century Serbian Orthodox monastery in Kosovo 8

9 Christian church in Byblos, Lebanon 9 St.%2BJohn%27s%2Bchurch,%2BByblos%2B%28Jbeil%29,%2BLebanon.JPG

10 Interior of Jewish synagogue on the island of Rhodes Jewish Heritage Online Magazine 10

11 Muslim Relations with Non- Muslims in the Ottoman Empire Only Muslims held high positions in political, military, legal, or educational hierarchy. However, other religions were protected, and Christians (and Jews) were NOT forcibly converted. 11

12 Millet System Subjects Organized by Religion Orthodox (largest especially in the Balkans) Gregorian Armenian Catholic Jewish 12

13 Religious Minorities got from the Empire: Toleration and recognition as peoples of the book Easy transition for Christians as Ottomans adopted many Byzantine practices Their own religious leaders, who became Ottoman officials Local autonomy local religious leaders controlled their areas 13

14 Non-Muslim obligations (that Muslim peasants didn t have): A special tax that non-muslims had to pay Christians sometimes subject to the devşirme (recruitment of boys for government service) 14

15 Effects of the millet system of organization by religious affiliation Greek control of the Orthodox Church until the age of nationalism (19 th century) Preservation of national differences Destruction of native (Christian) aristocracy so more egalitarian societies Association of religion and nationalism in emerging states. 15

16 Serbian royalty before the Battle of Kosovo 16

17 Idea of millets reflected in modern thought: Religion is still a determinant of identity in many parts of the former Ottoman Empire, particularly in the Balkans. (Example of Bosnia) Ottoman ideal of religious tolerance still a valued tradition, particularly in Muslim areas. (Example of the Holocaust rescuers) 17

18 Ottomans didn t really recognize linguistic or national differences. Other Muslims (Kurds, Arabs, Albanians, Bosnians) were generally given the same rights as Turks. 18

19 The Map Project, MESA, 19

20 It was nationalism, not religious persecution that led to ethnic persecution (even genocide) in the last days of the Ottoman Empire. 20

21 Destroyed Armenian town

22 Armenian Genocide Approximately 1.5 million Armenians deported (out of 2 million total in the Ottoman Empire) Approximately 1 million died. 22

23 Ottoman Empire s record of human rights: Original ideology and practice - of religious tolerance Rise of nationalism in the 19 th century created changes in The empire s economic and political stability The expectations of religious minorities (national equality or their own state) 23

24 To think about: The Middle East has a long tradition of human rights. The rise of nationalism had a negative impact on human rights. Nationalist (and thus SECULAR) societies often struggle with human rights. There is a connection between war and human rights abuses (even genocide). 24