Discuss the reasons why the Ottoman Empire attempted to introduce internal reform in the 19th century.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for Ottoman attempts to introduce internal reforms during the stated period. Reasons may predate the section’s timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may refer to pressures arising from military defeats and loss of territory, economic weakness of the Empire, the importation of new intellectual, political and economic ideas, rise of political parties demanding reform, more progressive imperial leadership, changing economic and technological developments leading to increased interaction with progressive societies in Europe, the need to satisfy the demands of national and ethnic minorities. While other relevant factors such as the attitudes of foreign powers may be referred to, the bulk of the response will be on the issue raised in the question.