It is difficult to understand how a small group of people, even if they are brave and wise, can control a very large empire. A handful of men cannot easily govern wide lands filled with many nations and languages. Courage and good policy alone are not enough if there are not enough people to hold the territory.
History gives us an example in Alexander the Great. With an army made mostly of Macedonians, he conquered a great part of the eastern world. His victories were fast and powerful. However, his empire did not last long after his death. It was like a ship with great sails but no ballast to keep it steady. It was also like a tall tree with branches too heavy for its trunk. Without strong roots and support, it quickly fell apart Istanbul Old City Tours.
This shows that conquest alone is not enough. An empire must be supported by a large and stable population if it is to endure.
The Ottoman Policy of Welcoming Many Nations
The Ottoman Turks understood this truth. Throughout the life of their empire, they were very open to receiving people from many different nations. Few empires in history have accepted foreigners so freely.
They used many methods to increase the number of those counted as Turks. Converts to Islam were welcomed. Foreign soldiers, adventurers, and even men with troubled pasts were allowed to enter Ottoman lands and find new opportunity there.
It is remarkable that people from many parts of the world, including some who were poor, restless, or seeking fortune, came to these dominions. They adopted the religion and customs of the empire and became part of its society.
A Mixed People
Over time, the blood of the Turks became mixed with that of many languages and nations. Soldiers, officials, and common people often had ancestors from different lands. As a result, few could claim pure descent from the ancient Saracens or the earliest Turkish tribes.
This mixture did not weaken the empire in its early centuries. Instead, it increased its strength. By welcoming many peoples and joining them under one government and one faith, the Ottomans built a powerful and lasting state.
Their success shows that a growing empire must gather strength not only from its original stock, but also from those who are willing to join and serve it.