I am taking a class called "Modern Ireland:1601-Present." I have recently began making connections between our class with Professor Metcalf and this class about Ireland. In nineteenth century Ireland and the years before it, the Irish were persecuted by the British because the Irish were Catholic and the British were Protestant. For years, Catholics in Ireland fought for their religious freedom and the right to hold positions in Parliament. To me, this is similar to the Ottoman Empire's struggles with the janissaries.
The British enforced laws in Ireland in the seventeenth century that shed them of basic rights, such as the right to bear arms and the right to hold positions in government. The British wanted the Irish to convert their religion and become Protestant. Similarly, the Ottoman Empire also wanted the janissaries to become more European. For example, they repeatedly changed their uniforms to look more like the French, and they adopted weapons that were as modern as the Europeans' weapons were.
Irish Catholics and the janissaries wanted to maintain their identity and not become assimilated to other European ways. Catholics in Ireland wanted to maintain their Catholic identity and be able to hold positions in Parliament without becoming Protestant. Similarly, the janissaries in the Ottoman Empire wanted to maintain their Turkish appearance and not take on a European appearance.
The British enforced laws in Ireland in the seventeenth century that shed them of basic rights, such as the right to bear arms and the right to hold positions in government. The British wanted the Irish to convert their religion and become Protestant. Similarly, the Ottoman Empire also wanted the janissaries to become more European. For example, they repeatedly changed their uniforms to look more like the French, and they adopted weapons that were as modern as the Europeans' weapons were.
Irish Catholics and the janissaries wanted to maintain their identity and not become assimilated to other European ways. Catholics in Ireland wanted to maintain their Catholic identity and be able to hold positions in Parliament without becoming Protestant. Similarly, the janissaries in the Ottoman Empire wanted to maintain their Turkish appearance and not take on a European appearance.
I find it so interesting that the British had control over Ireland too! I think it would be very interesting to have a class just on the history of the British! It seems like they have much of a hold on many empire from many of the earlier centuries! It blows my mind too because they are still doing well! Last year I went to student teach in England and it was awesome! I saw how they are and I'd love to study how they were in the past. Its interesting to me because many of the time the people were down to earth, and not as proper as the rest of the world potrays them to be. They wore the same cloths for at least one week if not two. took showers not everyday and this was very acceptable. they conserve their resources and believe in saving the planet. Although from what I hear from other nation's point of view they are very proper, always had the latest fashion etc.
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