Which is why china, vietnam, and korea never recovered. That good old colonialist narrative has its place, but given enough time and counter examples, it just lacks the explenation power it once had. Which is a dangerous gap the left left open, for the racist idiots to settle in.

Regarding the region.

The societal rot had already set in way before that. The whole ottoman empire was on a down trend, ever since the trade went around them. Which is a good indicator how low value was whatever they themselves had to produce and to offer.

To life in the shadow and ruins of the glorious past, it burns all men for what are they but lowcast creatures, fallen from up high..