Greater Security for Trade and Property
The special rule requiring written proof brought great safety to trade and to the estates of merchants. Before this protection, […]
False Witness and Religious Bias
Another serious problem in the Ottoman courts was the ease with which some people gave false witness. It was said
Greed and Sudden Wealth
When we consider all these circumstances together, we can better understand the condition of the Ottoman government. Many of the
Buying High Office
This system did not only show the power of the Sultan, but it also increased it. In many cases, men
The Power of the Grand Signior
In the Ottoman system, the first concern was always the power of the ruler, known as the Grand Signior, or
Who Could Join the Republic
In this system, only certain men were allowed to become members of the republic. They were either men who had
The Special Rules of the Mamluk Order
In the Mamluk system of Egypt, strict rules controlled who could become a member of the ruling military class. A
Popular Forms of Government in the Islamic World
It is not far from our subject to speak about two forms of government that were almost completely popular in
Preventing Early Claims to the Throne
The Ottoman rulers were deeply concerned about the danger of rebellion within the royal family. They feared that if princes
Rivalry Among the Sons of the Sultan
The history of the sons of Suleiman the Magnificent shows clearly how dangerous rivalry between princes could be. When royal