Sultan Abdulhamid II

Definition

Sultan Abdulhamid II was the 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire who ruled from 1876 until he was deposed in 1909. He is known for his despotic rule during which he suppressed democratic movements while trying to modernize Turkey on Western lines.

Analogy

Imagine if your school principal not only wanted to control all aspects of school life but also tried to introduce new teaching methods or technologies without considering students' opinions or needs. That's similar to how Sultan Abdulhamid II ruled.

Related terms

Despotism: A form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power.

Modernization Theory: The theory that societies progress through stages from traditional to modern systems.

Westernization: The adoption or influence of Western culture.