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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The Principles of Turkish Policy
The Ottoman Empire was ruled by methods very different from those of many European states. The Turks governed their lands
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
Fear Ambition and Rival Factions at Court
The Mother’s Growing Fear The Sultan’s mother, already shaken by the violent death of her husband, soon became deeply fearful
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
The Present State of the Ottoman Empire
This work, titled “The Present State of the Ottoman Empire,” was written to explain the political, religious, and military system
State and Church Support for Bulgarian Religious Art
The development of fine arts in Bulgaria was strongly supported by both the State and the Church. Important commissions were
The Fifth Religious Duty The Pilgrimage to Mecca
The Importance of the Pilgrimage The writer describes the fifth important practice of Islam as the pilgrimage to Mecca, known
The Founder Ibrahim Edhem and His Followers
The Founder of the Order The original founder of this religious order was a man named Ibrahim Edhem. His followers
Devotion and Religious Practice
Among certain religious sects in the Ottoman Empire, some followers spend entire nights bent toward the ground, reciting prayers and