The Ottoman Empire "Debt Trap": How Britain Bought The Middle East

n the history of how nations die, there is usually the sound of cannon fire—but for the Ottoman Empire, it was the sound of a banker’s pen. In this video, Finance History uncovers the terrifying true story of the world’s first modern "Debt Trap." Discover how Great Britain and France used compound interest and predatory loans to dismantle a 600-year-old superpower without ever needing an invasion force. While the Sultans were building palaces dripping with 14 tons of gold, the banks of London were quietly seizing the Empire's salt, silk, and tobacco. We dive deep into the secret math of the 1854 loans, the "Moral Hazard" of the European bankers, and the birth of the OPDA—a corporation that literally ran a state within a state. In this video, you will discover: 1. The "Circular Economy of War": How Britain lent money only for it to be spent in British factories. 2. The Dolmabahçe Palace: A monument to vanity that cost a quarter of a nation’s revenue. 3. The "Soft Conquest": How 5,000 foreign tax collectors occupied the Middle East. 4. Why it took until 1954 for modern Turkey to finally pay off the Sultan's shopping spree. This isn't just a history lesson; it's a blueprint for how financial warfare works in the modern world. If you want to understand why sovereignty is impossible without solvency, this video is for you. Subscribe to Finance History for more deep dives into the hidden money stories that shape our world. #FinanceHistory #OttomanEmpire #DebtTrap #BritishEmpire #EconomicHistory #MiddleEastHistory #Geopolitics #FinancialWarfare