The 17th and 18th centuries have traditionally been considered the eras of decline of the Ottoman Empire. During this period, the Ottomans experienced major changes, with traditional historians pushing the rhetoric of decline, while modern historians view it as an "age of transformation" or "reform". Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay In previous centuries and until the early 1920s, the Ottoman Empire was a dynastic empire. The Sultan was not only the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, but also the figurehead and center of the empire. The Ottoman sultans came to the throne through fratricide. Sultans did not have wives and did not marry, but instead fathered children with their concubines from the palace harem. This method led to an abundance of heirs, but caused many civil wars. Since there could only be one sultan, the heirs fought to the death. Brothers killed brothers to obtain the sultanate. Ahmed I, seeking a solution to the problem, implemented a new method of succession. The sultan's sons were no longer governors of the empire until their father's death, but now resided in the palace and were often not allowed to leave the palace. Although Ahmed I considered his new policies favorable, the effects of his policies generated more bad than good. Unlike their predecessors, the sultans after Ahmed's reign were inexperienced in governmental and military tactics. With this new incompetence, the empire went through long periods of instability leading to a rise in incompetence within the Ottoman central government. “For a century after that, sultans were unfit, unwilling, or unable to take full responsibility for their theoretically impressive powers.” Local governments gained more power, losing less respect and loyalty to the sultan. As previously stated in the preceding paragraphs, in the early 17th century the Empire began to suffer economically. The Ottoman Empire was no longer the gateway to Asia. With the change in trade routes, the Ottoman Empire suffered a major blow, losing its main source of income. European conquests in America brought substantial quantities of gold which weakened the value of silver. With the price of silver being considerably lower, the Ottomans faced a sharp rise in inflation. Commodity prices have more than tripled, while the value of the coin has plummeted. Ottoman exports became much cheaper for European traders and were imported in large quantities. Turkish artisans were unable to provide quality products and cheap prices compared to European manufactured goods. While European nations like England advanced technologically with the emergence of the Industrial Revolution, the Turks remained primitive. “In 1598, the janissaries revolted when they learned that they had to be paid in new, debased currency.” Although this event took place at the end of the 16th century, it would continue into the 17th and 18th centuries. Those who relied on salaries, like the janissaries, were underpaid, leading to overtaxation and corruption. As local principalities gained power, the central government received less tax revenue, which meant a weaker empire, especially in military terms. The Ottoman Empire was known for its military superiority, particularly during its.