How did the size of the ottoman empire compare to those in Europe and the middle east?

Answer 1

It depends on the century the question refers to. In the 16th Century, the Ottoman Empire was the most powerful empire west of China. In the 19th Century, the Ottoman Empire was one of the weakest empires in the world and called the "Sick Man of Europe".

Answer 2

There is no such thing as "the Muslim Empire". There have been numerous Muslim Empires throughout history. The Ottoman Empire was the last of these.

What people generally refer to when they say "the Muslim Empire" are the Arab Caliphates that controlled the central Middle East. These are the Rashidun Caliphate (632-661), the Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus (661-750), and the Abbassid Caliphate (750-1258). There were other additional and sometimes more powerful Muslim Empires, but these are disregarded for simplicity.

The differences between these three Caliphates and the Ottoman Empire are several.

Ethnicity of the Rulers: The Caliphs in the Caliphates were Arabs. The Sultans in the Ottoman Empire were Turks.

Role of the Caliph: The Caliphs in the Caliphates were Rulers (like Kings). The Caliphs in the Ottoman Empire were Spiritual Leaders (like the Pope).

Origin of the Armies: The Caliphs in the Caliphates used Arab Soldiers and later Turkish Slaves called Mamluks. The Ottoman Empire uses Turkish soldiers and had an elite unit called the Janissaries primarily made-up of abducted Christians.

Byzantine Empire: The Caliphates weakened the Byzantine Empire. The Ottomans conquered it completely.

Minorities: The Caliphates ignored minorities living in their territories provided that they paid their submission taxes. The Ottoman Empire actively sought to give the minority groups partial autonomy provided that their leadership was responsible to the Sultan.

Answer 3

Early on (1300s-1500s) it was very powerful, expanding around the Mediterranean and Middle East and threatening South Eastern Europe. However it gradually decayed until it became known as the "Sick man of Europe", France and Britain and others invested energies in either propping up or tearing down the Ottomans since if it were to collapse they feared the disorder and that others might get an advantage. But it slowly dissolved in fact if not in name over the 1600's and 1700's

The Russians were more aggressive and the Crimean war of the 1850's was largely about stopping Russia from taking large parts of the European Ottoman possessions in the Balkans.

The Empire finally collapsed after the First World War, Britain and France carving up most of the empire that had not already become independent or clients of another power. Modern Turkey was born out of the ruins.

Answer 4

It was larger, lasted longer and had far fewer issues with its democratic, Christian neighbors.