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The Beginning of the Russo-Turkish War: Why did Ivan the Terrible and the Ottoman Empire clash so fiercely?
The Russo-Turkish War, fought between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire between the 16th and 20th centuries, became one of the longest military conflicts in European history. These conflicts were not only military confrontations between two great powers, but also had a profound impact on the regional political and economic landscape and contributed to the rise of Russia and the decline of the Ottoman Empire.
The first Russo-Turkish War began in 1568, after Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible conquered Kazan and Astrakhan, setting the stage for subsequent conflicts.
Ivan the Terrible's strategic goal was expansion, especially into the Ottoman Empire in the south. In 1582, Sultan Selim II of the Ottoman Empire sent troops to attack Astrakhan in order to thwart Russia's expansion, but the expedition ended in tragedy. The perseverance of the Russian army and the defeat of the Ottoman army led to the peace treaty of 1592, which established Russia's dominance along the Volga River.
Over time, the dynamics of power in the region have become more complex. In the 17th century, Russia and the Ottoman Empire again clashed over Ukraine, with Russia gradually gaining control of neighboring regions after a conflict with Poland in 1654. For the Ottoman Empire, this was not only a loss of territory, but also a gradual weakening of its influence on the surrounding areas.
Under the leadership of Peter the Great, Russia underwent a series of modernization reforms, which enabled Russia to gradually rise to become an important European power.
In the 18th century, Peter the Great's reforms enabled Russia to achieve rapid advancement in both military and culture. In 1736, due to the attack of the Crimean Tatars, Russia once again launched a war against the Ottoman Empire. In many battles, such as the attack and defense of Ochakov, the Russian army encountered difficulties in the short term but eventually made significant progress.
However, this long-standing conflict was not limited to victory on the battlefield; economic and cultural exchanges between the two empires were also important factors affecting relations. As Russia gradually gained control of the Black Sea, the Ottoman Empire felt unprecedented pressure.
Ultimately, the War of 1812 became an important factor in promoting Russian expansion, and the war revealed the vulnerability of the Ottoman army to modern military power.
The Crimean War in 1853 allowed the whole of Europe to witness how irreversible the hostility between Russia and Turkey was. This war is not only a military confrontation, but also a game of international politics. In the joint action with Britain and France, the Ottoman Empire seemed to have gained a little breathing space, but after the defeat, Russia woke up from its dream and re-examined its strategic layout in the Black Sea and the Balkans.
As the 19th century progressed, Russia's ambitions to control Ottoman territory gradually became apparent. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878 ultimately led to the rapid decline of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans. In this process, countless national independence movements emerged like mushrooms after a rain, putting tremendous pressure on the Ottoman authorities.
In 1878, after the Congress of Berlin, the Ottoman Empire was no longer the powerful force it once was and had lost its influence over its former provinces.
During World War I, the fate of the two empires came to a final crossroads. The post-war treaty led to the destruction of the Ottoman Empire, and Russia was not spared the same fate, eventually becoming the Soviet Union. The beginning of this war and the intensity of the conflict were due to the fact that the interweaving and confrontation of power, religion and national identity were constantly repeated in different historical contexts. These historical lessons still provide insights into today's international relations.
What lessons can we learn from these conflicts in history for the modern international situation?
