Which of the following best describes the ottoman empire in the years just before world war i? a)strong and powerful b)eager to invade the balkans c)weak and in decline d)allied with the triple entente

Correct  C) weak and in decline

Context/detail:

The Ottoman Empire had expanded across sections of the Middle East and into Europe during the 16th century -- including control of Greek and Balkan territories.  Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan from 1520 to 1566, was responsible for much of the territorial expansion of the Ottoman Empire in that era.     

By the beginning of the 20th century, though, the Ottoman Empire was known as "the sick man of Europe," and other European powers were waiting to carve up its territory after it fell.  One region where the Ottomans had been losing their grip was in Greece and in the Balkan region north of Greece.  Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro and Serbia all had achieved independence from the Ottomans by the early 20th century -- but other neighboring powers wanted influence in the region also.  The Balkans  remained unstable, and political observers at the time worried that it would be a problem area where war could erupt that would pull other nations into the conflict. That's exactly  what did happen.

When World War I erupted, the Ottoman Empire sided with Germany as part of the "Central Powers."  In the end, the Central Powers lost and the Turkish  empire of the Ottomans ceased to exist as an empire.  Turkey remained as a country, but it lost control over other territories that it had held before.

Weak and in decline best describes the Ottoman Empire in the years just before World War I.

Further Explanations:

Ottoman Empire was structured by the Turkish tribes of Anatolia and soon it gained fame of being a powerful empire during the 15th century period. At its powerful state, the empire extended into the gates of Vienna, Greece, and Ukraine. During the era of WWI, the empire allied with Germany the "Central Powers."  In conclusion of the war, the Central Powers lost and the Ottoman Empire too ceased to be as an empire.  Though Turkey continued as a nation but lost its territories that it had detained before.

The early phase of the empire was regarded by provincial expansion towards southern Europe and Anatolian, but by the commencement of the 20th century, the empire began to fall and its territories went on the verge of declaring itself self-governing. European powers were too waiting for the Empire to fell and so that they can begin their supremacy in those areas.  

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Answer Details:

Grade: High school

Subject: US History

Chapter: Ottoman Empire

Keywords: Ottoman Empire, Turkish tribes, Anatolia, Vienna, Greece and Ukraine, southern Europe, WWI, Central Powers, Central Powers, Turkey, nation

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