Which of the following was a significant cause of the decline of the Ottoman Empire between 1280-1914?

The decline of the Ottoman Empire between 1280 and 1914 can be significantly attributed to the burden of wars leading to substantial debt. Throughout this period, the Ottoman Empire engaged in numerous military conflicts, such as the Balkan Wars and World War I, which not only drained its resources but also contributed to economic instability. The costs of these wars created extensive financial obligations, forcing the empire to borrow heavily. This debt accumulation weakened the state financially, making it challenging to govern effectively and undermining the empire's overall power and influence.

Although the loss of trade routes to Asia, successful colonization of Europe, and industrialization had impacts on the empire, the pressing and immediate nature of war-related debts was a more direct and significant cause of the empire's decline. The financial strain placed on the Ottoman administration limited its ability to modernize and reform, further hastening its downfall as competing nations began to advance militarily and economically.