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The self-confidence of Ottoman community, which was unrivaled in military, social and economical fields, led to
adverse developments. It considered the outside world as small and did not attribute any importance to it, which gave rise
to withdrawal of Ottoman community into itself, to close its eyes and ears to change and developments in outside world.
Community which had rational conducts in scientific and technical fields in the fifteenth century fell into the ignorance
and fanaticism in time. Sciences based on experiments and observations were underestimated. Since there could not be
religion without science, the decline in scientific realm did not linger to leave its negative effects on religion, thus superstition
and fanaticism replaced religion.
Science, culture and civilization develop and strengthen with a constant, healthy contact with different cultures
and civilizations. Ottoman did not have any neighbors culturally and scientifically stronger than itself in the East. Ottoman
community did not even wonder about Christian west since it was an enemy. This led to withdrawal of the empire in itself.
Therefore there were not any important figures in science and culture in the seventeenth century.
Beginning from the eighteenth century the empire was in defense, which lasted two hundred years, against the
west. This study will make assessments on the withdrawal of Ottoman civilization into itself, after that putting itself in a
defensive position against European and Russian attacks along with the solution to these issues.
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