Synopses & Reviews
Volume 3 of The Cambridge History of Turkey traces the history of the later Ottoman Empire from the death of Mehmed III in 1603 to the proclamation of the tanzimat, the administrative reconstruction of the Ottoman state, in 1839. This was a period of relative stability when trade between the empire and Europe flourished and, wartime apart, merchants and pilgrims travelled in relative security. However, despite the emphasis on the sultan's role as defender of the faithful and of social order, tensions did exist between the ruling elite in Istanbul and their provincial subjects. This theme is central to the volume. Other sections focus on religious and political groups, women, trade, rural life and, importantly, music, art and architecture. The history emphasises the political, cultural and artistic accomplishments of the Ottomans in the post-classical period, thus challenging traditional notions that this was a period of stagnation.
Synopsis
Volume 3 of The Cambridge History of Turkey covering the period from 1603 to 1839.
About the Author
Suraiya N. Faroqhi is Professor at the Ludwig Maximilians Universität in Munich, Federal Republic of Germany. Her most recent publications include Subjects of the Sultans, Culture and Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire (2000), and The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It (2004).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction Suraiya Faroqhi; 2. Ecology of the Ottoman lands Wolf Hütteroth; Part I. An Empire in Transition: 3. Political and diplomatic developments Christoph K. Neumann; 4. Political culture and the great households Carter Findley; 5. War and peace Virginia Aksan; 6. Public finances, the role of the Ottoman centre Linda Darling; Part II. The Centre and the Provinces: 7. The Ottoman centre vs. provincial power holders Dina Khoury; 8. Semi-autonomous forces in the Balkans and Anatolia Fikret Adanir; 9. Semi-autonomous forces in the Arab provinces Bruce Masters; Part III. Social, Religious and Political Groups: 10. The Ottoman ulema Madeline Zilfi; 11. Muslim women in the early modern era Madeline Zilfi; 12. The Ottoman Jews Minna Rozen; 13. Christians in a changing world Bruce Masters; Part IV. Making a Living: 14. Capitulations and western trade Edhem Eldem; 15. Guildsmen and handicraft producers Suraiya Faroqhi; 16. Declines and revivals in textile production Suraiya Faroqhi; 17. Rural life Suraiya Faroqhi; Part V. Culture and the Arts: 18. The Ottoman musical tradition Cem Behar; 19. Arts and architecture Tülay Artan; 20. Ottoman literature Hatice Aynur; Chronology; Bibliography.