Western capitalism and the disintegration of the Ottoman empire

Abstract

The massive transformation of the traditional Ottoman society coincides with the expansion of European capitalism. The capitalist world economy whose essential feature is ever expanding production for a world market emerged in Europe in the 16th century, spread over large parts of the Western Hemisphere, and confronted the Ottoman Empire a century later. This world system created new productive forces, reshaped national economics, and created a new division of labor on a truly global scale. © 1975 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.