THE TIMES GAZETESİNİN GÖZÜNDEN DOĞU SORUNU, OSMANLI İMPARATORLUĞU VE TANZİMAT DÖNEMİ (1838- 1878)

Beginning from the first part of the eighteenth century, the Ottoman Empire started to lose territory and prestige constantly in the presence of European supremacy on economy and technology. In the nineteenth century it entered into a disintegration process. In the Ottoman Empire a range of regulations with the aim of rescuing the empire from this process. Besides, a balance policy was started to be followed with European states by realizing that military power was not merely sufficent for surviving of the empire. During Napoleon’s Egypt invasion in 1798, if the Ottoman statesmen only could realize the fact that the empire was in a diffucult position, it was also weak and insufficent. In addition, they exactly conceived the impossibility of saving territorial integrity and independence without any European state’s military and diplomatic support. The process that brought the Ottoman Empire to Tanzimat Era was coincided with a period in Europe, especially in England which the media could keep up itself freely without any financial support. The point at issue newspaper was daily The Times which was also the most competent. It was founded in 1785 and it was one of the first newspapers worldwide, most especially in nineteenth century, it had a vital role on shaping the public opinion particularly about political issues. The relations of England and the Ottoman Empire and following policies culminated in the interest and attention of The Times. The Times published the news on events and opinions elaborately. The editorial comments that examined and evaluated for all developing events became efficient on trying to give the meaning of the period’s point of views and real perceptions