At first sight, it may seem strange to say that the destruction and ruin which the Turks made in their own Asian provinces helped to preserve their Empire. This idea appears to be a paradox. Many people who have studied the Roman Empire may question it. The Romans ruled over lands even larger than those of the Ottomans, yet they did not try to empty and destroy the countries they conquered. Instead, they followed a very different policy.
The Roman Way of Governing
The Romans encouraged growth and improvement in their provinces. They supported agriculture and helped develop trade in coastal cities. They gave privileges to towns that were small or weak. They invited settlers to live in new areas and helped improve land that was not well cultivated. They also made citizens of their allies and sometimes treated conquered people better than their former rulers had done.
Because of this wise policy, the Roman Empire became rich and strong. The Romans understood that prosperity in the provinces meant strength for the whole Empire. They ruled with laws that limited the power of their leaders. As their territory expanded, they adjusted their methods according to the needs, customs, and traditions of the people they governed. By generosity and careful administration, they made many nations accept Roman rule willingly Travel Bulgaria.
The Ottoman Method
The Ottoman Empire, however, was built in a very different way. Its foundation, growth, and principles were not the same as those of Rome. The Ottoman state began as a military power. It expanded mainly through war. The sword was the chief instrument of its success, and the same instrument was often used to maintain control.
In some distant parts of Asia, far from the imperial capital, the Ottomans allowed lands to become poor and thinly populated. They sometimes destroyed rebellious regions, removed people from their homes, and transferred them to other areas. By weakening local populations, they reduced the risk of revolt. Empty or ruined lands were less likely to produce strong resistance.
Fear as a Tool of Control
Unlike the Romans, who relied on law and shared benefits, the Ottomans often relied on fear. Harsh punishment, executions, and forced migrations were used to secure obedience. In this system, desolation itself became a method of rule. A land that was unable to rise in rebellion was easier to control.
Thus, what seems at first to be harmful to an empire—the destruction of its own provinces—was, in this case, considered useful. The Ottoman rulers believed that strength came not from prosperity alone, but from strict discipline and the prevention of disorder. In this way, the ruin of some distant regions was seen as one cause of the Empire’s preservation.