Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire or Devlet-i Âliyye-i Osmâniyye is country at the crossroads literaly and figuratively. It controls large parts of Asia, Africa and SE Europe, making it one of the vastest countries in the world. Around 30 million people live in Ottoman empire, around the same number as in Austro-Hungary, British Isles and a bit fewer than in Metropolitan France. Both Ottoman Empire and Austro-Hungary rules over collection of different nations, but, contrary to his European counterpart, only 60% Ottoman are of Muslim faith.
Ottoman Empire borders France and Austro-Hungary in the west, Persia in the east, Russia in north and is encompased by various British holdings or spheres of interest in South and South East. Of those mentioned Russia poses greatest threat to Empires survival. While just recently checked by combined efforts of British, French, Ottaman and various smaller allies Orthodox giant still have twice as big population, 5-7 times greater capacity to raise funds and six times more men.
It's no wonder, that integration, security of state, increase of commerce and industrial production and modernization of armed forces have taken most of Sultans energy, but, it's equally evident, that there is still long way to go. As
Tanzimatdesigned by Sultan Mahmud II and continued by Sultan Abdülmecid is almost complete there is a need of new plan. Plan that will prepare Empire for it's entry into industrial age.
For this reason Sultan Abdülmecid Mehmed Emin Aali Pasha, Hatt-ı Hümayun, Mustafa Reshid Pasha and other statesmen of greater and lesser importance have gathered in Istanbul to discuss possible action. While no details of this meeting was made known to public 4 main courses of action was:
Ottoman spirit (society) -
Osmanlı ruhu
Governance and law -
Yönetim ve hukuk
Infrastructure and Industry -
Altyapı ve Endüstri
Powerful military -
Güçlü askeri
First actions to introduce reforms have already been started. To pleasant surprise of Sultan Abdülmecid both France and Great Britain have agreed to lend a helpful hand. Influx of funds from private investors for railway line Izmir-Eģirdir have preceded signing mentioned treaties. Truly a signal of growing trust between our people. As of July 1861 two new railway lines are open for private investors - Istanbul-Izmit and Ankara-Eskişehir. Foreign investors with experience with railroad development are welcome to contact state rail company -
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları, that are responsible for planning, choosing investors and overseeing rail development. For the time being actual building and management of railway lines will remain private enterprise.
Ottoman railway map: