The Ottoman war -- a comparative perspective on WWI

Stockholm University
Stockholm University
66,583
0
Published 2014-06-12
What is different about the Ottoman war? -- A comparative perspective on WWI. The experience of World War I in the Ottoman Empire was substantially different from that in other belligerent countries in Europe. This was true for the outbreak of war, the war years themselves, and the aftermath of the war.

It is now 100 years since the onset of World War I. Our picture of this war has been shaped to a great extent by visions of the war enthusiasm of 1914, by the mud and trenches of Flanders and the Somme, and by the revolutions of 1917-18, all of them European phenomena. The argument of this lecture is that the experience of World War I in the Ottoman Empire was substantially different from that in other belligerent countries in Europe. This was true for the outbreak of war, the war years themselves, and the aftermath of the war.

Open lecture by renowned historian Erik J. Zürcher, Affilated Professor at Stockholm University Institute for Turkish Studies (SUITS) and Professor of Turkish Studies, Leiden University.

SUITS,Ottoman Empire (Country),World War I (Event),Erik J Zürcher,Turkish Studies,Turkey (Country),Europe (Continent)
All Comments (21)
  • @AlbertSchram
    For your convenience here is an index of the lecture: [03:35] 5 Differences: outbreak, nature, effects on population, the end and the political legacy [06:37] Spirit of 1914 or war enthusiasm. Ottoman Empire was different regarding: [08:00] 1- Outbreak of war [16:20] 2- Nature of warfare [25:14 ] 3- Effects on population [31:54] 4- WW1's end [41:58] 5- Political legacy [54:53] Q&A Enjoy!
  • @flashgordon6670
    I love statistics about coal production and railways. It’s therapy.
  • @julianholman7379
    fantastic point about ottoman trains in the war using olive logs instead of coal
  • @basitk12
    Professor I still remember you loved the lecture.
  • @Sheehan1
    A Nederlander in Sweden talking about Turkey. All in the English language!
  • @sliceofheaven3026
    Why didnt they strike at the railroad system rather than trying to land on a terrain at gallipoli that is very difficult to navigate in. They could have potentially been able to prevent resources from germany coming in. Putting a blockade up also at where the narrow area of sea opens up into mediterranean sea.
  • @norbertblackrain2379
    How can there be a period of 40 year peace in Europe when there were for example two Balkan wars in the years before 1914? Is the Balkan not part of Europe?
  • @julianholman7379
    all remarkably relevant to our understanding of Israel/Palestine
  • @alexanderaghayan117
    US Ambassador Morgenthau wrote about the Armenian Genocide. It's the definitive firsthand account of Ottoman deportation and genocide policy.
  • @vinm300
    11:47 "They (Balkans/Thrace) had been Ottoman for longer than most of Anatolia" That is because, prior to Mehmed II conquering Constantinople (1453), his father Murad II had conquered lands encircling Constantinople. At this time ~1450, most of Anatolia was not Ottoman.