The Province of Damascus (Scham)
The fourth great province of the Ottoman Empire was Scham, better known as Damascus. This province held a very important […]
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Absolute Obedience to the Sultan
Another result of this strict system of government was the complete obedience shown to the Grand Signior, or Sultan. Great
The White Eunuchs and Their Rank
These officers described above are the principal and senior officers among the White Eunuchs of the Seraglio. Besides them, there
The Careful Choice of Officers
The Turks were very careful in choosing their officers. They preferred to be served by men they had raised and
Obedience and Discipline in the Turkish Military
The Training of Absolute Obedience Obedience was carefully taught and deeply instilled in the Turkish military. This discipline began early
Landscape Painters of the Sofia School
Among the remaining landscape painters who graduated from the Sofia School of Painting, Marin Georgieff occupies a distinct place. He
Official Support for the Fine Arts in Bulgaria
Orders and commissions given by civil and ecclesiastical authorities played an important role in the development of fine arts in
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 Followers of the Kalenderi Santon
The Character of the Santon The Santon, or holy man, described in the previous section was known for his strict
The Bektafi Sect Among the Janissaries
One of the more subtle and unusual sects among the Janissaries is called the Bektafi, named after a leader called