«Eastern Question" as a concept emerged in the late 18th century, but as a diplomatic term he became consumed with the 30s of the 19th century.His birth, he is obliged immediately to three factors: the decline of the once mighty Ottoman Empire, the rise of the liberation movement against Turkish oppression, and the sharpening of the contradictions between European countries for supremacy in the Middle East.
The "Eastern Question", in addition to the great European powers were involved Egypt, Syria, part of the Caucasus, etc.
At the end of the 18th century the Ottoman Turks empire, once suggestive of horror, went into decline.Most of all it was beneficial to Austria, which managed to get through Hungary to the Balkans, and Russia, to expand its borders to the Black Sea in the hope will reach the shores of the Mediterranean.
It all began with the revolt of the Greeks in the 20s of the 19th century.This event and force the West to act.After the refusal of the Turkish sultan to accept the independence of the Greeks alliance of Russian, British and French troops destroyed the Turkish and Egyptian naval flotilla.As a result, Greece freed from the Turkish yoke, and Moldavia, Serbia and Wallachia - Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire - have autonomy, although in its composition.
In the 30s of the same century in the already overdue "Eastern Question" was already involved all Middle Eastern ownership Ottoman Egypt won from his overlord Syria, and only the intervention of England helped bring her back.
At the same time there was another problem: it is the right of passage through the straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, which was controlled by the Turks.Under the Convention, no warship of another State had no right to pass through the narrow passages, when Turkey was at peace.
This was contrary to the interests of Russia."Eastern Question" in the 19th century for Russia took a different turn after she acted as an ally of the Turks in the war against the Egyptian pasha.Against the background of the defeat of the Ottoman troops of Tsar Nicholas first introduced in the Bosphorus his squadron and landed numerous troops, ostensibly to protect Istanbul.
As a result, the contract was made, according to which in the Turkish Straits could include only Russian warships.
Ten years later, in the early forties, the "Eastern Question" escalated.Port, promised to improve the living conditions of its population Christian, in fact, did nothing.And for the Balkan peoples remained the only way out: to start an armed struggle against the Ottoman yoke.And then Russian Tsar demanded that the Sultan's right to the protection of the Orthodox subjects, but Sultan refused.As a result, it began Russian-Turkish war, which ended with the defeat of the tsarist troops.
Despite the fact that Russia lost, Russian-Turkish war was one of the decisive steps in addressing the "Eastern Question."The process of liberation of the South Slavic peoples.Turkish rule in the Balkans received a mortal blow.
«Eastern Question" in Russian foreign policy occupies an important role, for it had two main areas: the Caucasus and the Balkans is.
trying to expand their holdings in the Caucasus, the Russian tsar tried to ensure secure communication with all of the newly conquered territories.
At the same time the local population in the Balkans sought to assist Russian soldiers who Ottoman troops offered stubborn resistance.
With the help of the Serbian and Bulgarian volunteers tsarist troops took the city of Adrianople, thereby putting an end to the war.
And Kara direction was released a significant part of Western Armenia, which has become a significant event in the military campaign.
As a result, an agreement was signed, which states that Russia gets quite a large area of the Black Sea section of the Caucasus, as well as many Armenian region.It was resolved the question of Greek autonomy.
Thus, Russia has performed its mission in the Armenian and Greek peoples.
