The Evolution Of Ottoman- Greeks Interactions: From Coexistance To Nationalistm

Abstract

The relationship between the Ottoman Empire and its Greek rae’ya represents one of the most complex and rich patterns of historical interaction in the Balkans and Anatolia. This relationship was not static; rather, it underwent a radical transformation, evolving from a model of coexistence within the framework of the Ottoman millet system to an existential conflict driven by the rise of nationalisms in the nineteenth century. The purpose of this study is to trace the trajectory of this development and to analyse the political, economic, and cultural factors that led to the collapse of the coexistence model and the emergence of the Greek national project, which ultimately challenged the very foundations of the millet system adopted by the Ottoman state structure.