The Tanzimat was a series of reforms in the Ottoman Empire that took place from the 1830s to the 1870s. Aimed at modernizing the empire, these reforms sought to improve administrative efficiency, promote equality among citizens, and enhance military capabilities. Key documents, such as the Gülhane Edict of 1839, emphasized the importance of legal rights and the protection of life and property. These changes were driven by the need to counteract internal strife and external pressures from European powers. The Tanzimat era also laid the groundwork for later movements, including the Young Turks, who sought further modernization and reform in the early 20th century.