The Tanzimât meaning reorganization of the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

, was a period of reformation that began in 1839 and ended with the First Constitutional Era

First Constitutional Era (Ottoman Empire)

The First Constitutional Era of the Ottoman Empire was the period of constitutional monarchy from the promulgation of the Kanûn-ı Esâsî , written by members of the Young Ottomans, on 23 November 1876 until 13 February 1878...

 in 1876. The Tanzimât reform era was characterized by various attempts to modernize the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...

, to secure its territorial integrity against nationalist movements and aggressive powers. The reforms encouraged Ottomanism

Ottomanism

Ottomanism was a concept which developed prior to the First Constitutional Era of the Ottoman Empire. Its proponents believed that it could solve the social issues that the empire was facing. Ottomanism was highly affected by thinkers such as Montesquieu and Rousseau and the French Revolution. It...

 among the diverse ethnic groups of the Empire, attempting to stem the tide of nationalist movements within the Ottoman Empire

Rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire

The rise of the Western notion of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire eventually caused the break-down of the Ottoman millet concept...

.