In the early 18th century, the Ottoman Empire that ruled the Middle East began to decline. While Western European states were not necessarily superior at this point, they were transforming. Western Europeans were able to transform their society from agricultural to based on technology and industry. This momentum spread from industry, to the military and intellectual fields. This rapid change, known as the Great Western Transmutation, made it nearly impossible for competing nations to catch up. The Industrial Revolution gave them vast social and political power that allowed them to impose their will across much of the world. Towards the end of the 18th century the Ottoman Empire was deteriorating rapidly. Once called the “terror of Europe,” there was now little fear or concern about the military power of the Ottoman Empire. [Armajani, n.d.] In the early 19th century its rulers began reform efforts with great concern. One of the most important and aggressive programs was Tanzimat. Tanzimat in Turkish means “reorganization” and this was of utmost importance to the Ottoman Empire. Initiated at a time when it was understood that the weakened empire was surrounded by countries that were flourishing, Tanzimat was an attempt to modernize a dying empire. The reformist sultans, Mahmud II and his son, Abdul-Mecid, were the main contributors and supporters of Tanzimat. They recognized that the obsolete religious and military foundations did not fit the needs of the empire in a modern world. Much of the reform consisted of attempts to convert to positive European practices. Government officials were encouraged to wear a more “Western” style of clothing, in an attempt to change the perspective of imperial leaders. Educa...... middle of paper ......and Problem of political authority in the Ottoman Empire: 1839-1876. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from: http://digitalcommons.ric.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=honors_projects&seiredir=1&referer=http%3A%2F %2Fwww.google.ca%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct %3Dj%26q%3Dtanzimat%2Breforms%2Bsuccess%2Bor%2Bfailure%2Bsite%3A.edu%26source%3 Dweb%26cd%3D2%26ved%3D0CDUQFjAB%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fdigitalcommons.ric.edu%252Fcgi% 252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Far ticle%253D1005%2526contest%253Dhonors_projects%26ei%3Db9cmUa6LPLL9iQLJ4IBo%26usg%3DAFQjCNFK2BhH7thAH3K1LgJZ1HGkdOS22g Kjeilen, T. (nd) Tanzimat. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from: http://looklex.com/eo/tanzimat.htm Armajani, Ricks, Perry, and Stavrianos, (n.d.) Tanzimat Reforms: Different Perspectives. Retrieved July 6, 2014, from: http://www.artsrn.ualberta.ca/amcdouga/Hist323/autumn%202012/additional%20rdgs/tanzimat_reforms%201.htm