Internal Causes of Imperial Decline
Each empire has distinct features, and every civilization still perishes under the strain of external or internal factors. The Ottoman and Qing empires are not an exception; in their cases, internal factors played a key role in determining their demise. Though Europeans were a part of the problem, the mentioned empires were disintegrating from within, challenged by financial incompetence, riots, and corruption. In this sense, possibly due to cultural beliefs or the inability to timely address and reconstruct the political system, leading to inevitable demise. Such an inability shows that empires that cannot adapt to changes and restructure their systems tend to collapse.
At this point, it might be claimed that all civilizations fall. These are economic collapse, military conflicts, or demographic reasons. However, it is noteworthy that the fall of each civilization must be analyzed through the lens of that time. For example, it is impossible to give an overview of the empire’s collapse without considering the nation’s culture, beliefs, economic, or political stance.
The Role of European Expansion from a Historical Perspective
When it comes to historians, they should not distinctly blame a specific civilization or situation for the collapse of another empire, since the truth will never be known. It is more rational to indicate the possible causes of such events and highlight the most likely reasons. In this sense, Europeans should not be the only party to blame for the fall of the Ottoman or Qing empires; their role should not be wholly overlooked.
The European nations could exacerbate the issues that led to the downfall of previous empires. When a new, stronger country arises, competing and staying afloat might be challenging due to shifts in trade and political alliances. Therefore, the rise of Europeans was bound to transform the world.
Consequently, it would be unfair not to consider the role of Europeans in the decline of other nations. By colonizing numerous nations, European nations contributed to the decline of more fragile, developing countries while reaping the benefits. Thus, Europe should not be directly blamed for the decline of other nations, yet it may have played a significant role.