Under Mehmed ‘Alī's impact :|dispatching students to Europe in the Reign of Mahmud II (1830–1839)

Abstract

The transformation of the Ottoman Empire throughout the nineteenth century certainly grew out of the earlier discussions of reforms. While initial steps were taken to restructure the Ottoman military, these re forms had far-reaching consequences, manifesting themselves in politi cal and legal realms, also with clear consequences in daily life. The reign of Mahmud II and his reformist agenda provide a good opportunity to understand the extent of the transformation of the Ottoman Empire in this period. Traditional historiography has examined this era by empha sizing the Janissaries and the local dynasties, often seen as “obstacles to reform.” However, these internal dynamics had relationships between both themselves and the ruling elite in Istanbul. The relationship be tween semi-independent Mehmed ‘Alī Pasha in Cairo and Istanbul is a subject that needs further academic investigation. When Mehmed ‘Alī Pasha dispatched the first large mission composed of students of different identities in May 1826, the administrative power in Istanbul also sent the four members from the household of Husrev Pasha on December 14, 1830. These two actions by the those who ruled different parts of the empire show how common interaction between Cairo and Istanbul interacted with one another. When explaining the interaction, this thesis will discuss the lists of students both from Istanbul and Cairo and their identities, de parture, and return dates, compiled from the archival documents. Finally, the research will contextualize the Ottoman case within a global moment of sending students abroad as exemplified by Iran and Japan.