MULTICULTURAL VALUES IN THE 19TH CENTURY OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Abstract

Today in the early 21st century it is quite challenging to find completely mononational state. Throughout the world history new territorial gains, wars, willing or unwilling (forced) migrations, trade relations, economic and climate conditions changed the ethnic picture of the world not once. United under the rule of one state different cultural groups had to leave together and figure out the written or unwritten rules of peaceful coexistence. The need of respect for cultural, religious, social differences in the end gave a shape to the idea of the concept of multiculturalism. Although “the clear trend across western democracies towards the increased recognition and accommodation of diversity through a range of multiculturalism policies and minority rights” [15, p. 97] can be observed from 1970s to mid-1990s, such policies could be found in 19th century societies either. The present article deals with multicultural values existed in the Ottoman society formed by the 19th century in inhabited by more than 22 different ethnic groups the Ottoman Empire.