The Evolution of the Image of the Ottoman Empire on the Cartoons of the British Magazine «Punch» of the First World War Period

Abstract

This article discusses the development in the British society of the image of the Ottoman Empire, perceived as a ’’German ally“ during the First World War. English cartoons from the satirical magazine “Punch” were taken as historical sources. The peculiarity of this magazine was that during the period under study it was popular among representatives of the elite, intelligentsia, workers and some of the farmers due to the publication of various drawings and cartoons in it. The main goal of the authors of the article is to consider the development of the image of the Ottoman Empire, presented on graphic materials as an “ally of Germany”, using political caricatures as an example, and to reveal its features in British propaganda. The study allows us to conclude that the image of the Ottoman Empire was presented in satirical form, as it was aimed at discrediting the ”ally of Germany“. British artists sought to convey to the mass audience that the Ottoman Porta was embroiled in armed conflict and was used by Germany as a "puppet". On the example of the most striking English cartoons of the satirical magazine “Punch”, it can be noted that many stories about the “ally of Germany” reflected in their content the military-political dependence of the Ottoman Empire on the German one.