The Ottoman Empire and the World Around itIn Islamic law the world was made up of the 'House of Islam' and the 'House of War' with the Ottoman Sultan - successor to the early Caliphs - as supreme ruler of the Islamic world. However, in this ground-breaking study of the Ottoman Empire in the early modern period, Suraiya Faroqhi demonstrates that there was no 'iron curtain' between the Ottoman and 'other' worlds but rather a long-established network of connections - diplomatic, trading and financial., cultural and religious. These extended beyond regional contacts to the empires of Asia and the burgeoning 'modern' states of Europe - England, France, the Netherlands and Venice. Of course, military conflict was a constant factor in these relationships, but the overriding reality was 'one world' and contact between cultured and pragmatic elites - even 'gentlemen travelling for pleasure' - as well as pilgrimage and close artistic contact with the European Renaissance. Faroqhi's book is based on a huge study of original and early modern sources, including diplomatic records, travel and geographical writing, as well as personal accounts. Its breadth and originality will make it essential reading for historians of Europe and the Middle East. |
Contents
1 | |
expanding and safeguarding the Empire | 27 |
clients and dependants | 75 |
4 The strengths and weaknesses of Ottoman warfare | 98 |
5 Of prisoners slaves and the charity of strangers | 119 |
6 Trade and foreigners | 137 |
7 Relating to pilgrims and offering mediation | 161 |
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Common terms and phrases
able activities addition administration Algiers ambassador Anatolia apparently armies attempted become border capital captives central central Europe certainly Christian claim concerned conquest considerable considered court demand dependent discussion documents early economy eighteenth century elite especially established Europe European Evliya Çelebi fact foreign formed France French frontier given Habsburg hand important instance interest involved Iranian Islamic Istanbul Italy king known lands late later least less limited major matters means merchants military Moreover Muslim needed numerous officials once Otto Ottoman Empire Ottoman sultans peace period pilgrimage pilgrims political possessed possible present princes prisoners probably produced provinces reason recent regarded region relations remained reports reprint result rule rulers Russian seventeenth century situation sixteenth century slaves sources subjects sultans territory town trade Venetian Venice visited wars western writing