The Training Grounds and Gardens of the Janissary Recruits
Where the Recruits Lived After joining the Acemi Oğlanlar (Janissary novice corps), many recruits were assigned to work in the […]
T32a
The Timariots and the Organization of the Ottoman Army
The Duties of the Timariots The Timariots were an important part of the Ottoman cavalry. Like the Zaims, they held
The Month of Ramadan and Fasting in Islam
Historical Background The passage begins with the author’s comments on the political struggles between the Ottoman Empire and the Christian
The Convents and Appearance of the Edhem Order
Main Convents in Persia The main convents of this religious order are found in the cities of Persia, especially in
Devotion and Religious Practice
Among certain religious sects in the Ottoman Empire, some followers spend entire nights bent toward the ground, reciting prayers and
Superstitions and Magical Beliefs
In Persian culture, it was commonly believed that certain people possessed a strange power in their eyes that could bring
The Origins of Christianity and Mahometanism
It is well known that Christianity and Mahometanism (Islam) were introduced into the world under very different circumstances. Christianity’s Early
Dealing with the Turks
The most effective way for a diplomat to negotiate with the Turks was firmness, consistency, and adherence to established customs.
Fear and Uncertainty in Government
In the Ottoman Empire, it sometimes happened that a man was appointed to govern a province, even though the ruler
The Emperor of Germany and the Ottoman Tribute
The Emperor of Germany may also be described, in a certain sense, as a tributary to the Ottoman Empire. We