A hundred years after the abolition of the Ottoman sultanate on November
1, 1922, enough time has passed to reexamine the Ottomans and reassess
their legacy. This illustrated volume, by critically acclaimed author
Diana Darke, explores their unique achievements in architecture,
cuisine, music, science, and medicine, as well as the political
challenges they met. The Ottoman Empire faced issues shared by modern
European and Middle Eastern countries: how to maintain a balance between
religious ideology and secular politics and how to promote fairness and
equality among citizens in a multicultural society.
While many still equate the Ottomans with the decadence of
Istanbul--extravagant architecture, harems, and hookahs--they are
unaware that the secrets of Ottoman success lay in a disciplined
bureaucracy and a standing army that both awed and seduced its
opponents. The Ottomans harnessed the talents of their diverse
populations and quickly buttressed the crumbling edifice of Byzantine
Christianity. Their dynamism and resilience helped fuse the cultures of
Asia, Europe, and Africa, from the Himalayas to the Sahara, absorbing
whatever impressed them, from Mongol armor to Persian tile work.
Alongside their essential rigor, they enjoyed the finer aspects of life:
in music, cuisine, and art, unafraid, even as rugged fighters, to
display their love of flowers and gardens, especially tulips and roses.
Behind the fine robes, carpets, and ceramics on display today in their
great architectural monuments, Istanbul's Topkapi Palace and Hagia
Sophia, lie centuries of migration, trade, and struggle. In this
original and beautifully illustrated book, Darke reveals a radically new
picture of the Ottoman Empire
