The Greeks Eighteenth Century
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During the eighteenth century, the idea of a revolution was spreading throughout the Turkish-controlled Greece. The Greeks took action and led an up rise against the dominant reign of the Turkish Empire. Other European countries viewed the Greek movement for independence in different ways. Many supported Greece, claiming that the Ottoman Empires rule had only done harm to Greek society. Among these supporting countries were England and France. On the other hand, there were nations that sided with the Turks, such as Germany. No matter who sided with who, this rebellion brought interest to numerous people throughout the world.
The countries who sided with the Greeks, such as the French, voiced their opinions such as, Claude Btienne Savary, a French scholar of Greek and Arabic. He voices his opinion in a letter he wrote in 1788, this letter states that what the Turks have done has destroyed the true beauty of Greece, he states, “At the sight of these melancholy spectacles my heart groans, my blood boils in my veins and I would wish to excite all Europe to combine against these Turks who have crushed the Greek nation.” ( Document 3) The preservation of the once great Greece has been demolished by the Turks, thus angering Claude Savary, the French, and many other countries such as England.
A prime example of Englands take on the Greek movement is depicted by the letter written by, James Dallaway, a chaplain to the English community in Constantinople. James Dallaway states, ” the Greeks experience greater toleration that the conquered subjects of any other nation, but they have no degree recovered their former energy.” ( Document 5). Dallaway is describing the affects of the Turks rule on the Greeks, the beauty and prestige has been replaced from the Greeks with melancholy and sorrow.