The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It (Library of Ottoman Studies) [Paperback]

Suraiya Faroqhi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1845111222 | ISBN-13: 978-1845111229

In Islamic law the world was made up of the House of Islam and the House of War with the Ottoman Sultan--the perceived successor to the Caliphs--supreme ruler of the Islamic world. However, Suraiya Faroqhi demonstrates that there was no iron curtain between the Ottoman and other worlds but rather a long-established network of diplomatic, financial, cultural and religious connections. These extended to the empires of Asia and the modern states of Europe. 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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the leading lasy in the domain of Ottoman historical studies today...all experienced academic teachers of history will do well by buying this book and putting it on their reference shelves." --Bibliotheca Orientals

 

 

About the Author

Suraiya Faroqhi is Professor of Ottoman Studies at the Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, and the author of Pilgrims and Sultans (I.B.Tauris).

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris (March 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1845111222
• ISBN-13: 978-1845111229
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #807,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Talk about research! Not exactly for the casual reader..., September 18, 2007

By 

Timothy M. Link "Timfever" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It (Library of Ottoman Studies) (Paperback)

(The only reason why I think that this book may alienate the casual reader somewhat is that it throws some names and events around which will be unfamiliar to most history buffs. If you can handle that, then by all means check this book out!)

This book is not exactly a page turner at first, but it is enjoyable, especially if you have a basic understanding of the early to late Medieval and Early Modern Period. This book covers some aspects of Ottoman history (and some corresponding European and Central Asian/Iranian history) in the Early Modern/Modern Era that, simply put, you will not find in other books. Suraiya Faroqhi is not your typical historian that chooses to write a book like this, largely by using the subject's chronology as an outline; the analysis is much more detailed, no matter how insignificant any subject covered seems at first.

The book almost seems to work backward compared to other history books, and that is a good thing. To give an example, I have several books on the Roman Republic/Empire, and 90% of their content is the same; the other 10% is that extra bit of detail on subjects that authors add out of their own interest or specialty as writers. Imagine that an author took that 10% from several great books on the Ottoman Empire, but took all of it further; if that made any sense, then that will give you an idea of what to expect with "The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It."

Some examples of that detail and analysis include relations between the empire's administration and European pilgrims -- Jewish and Christian -- to Jerusalem, how the Hajj was managed for non-Sunni Muslim pilgrims, the differences in administration between frontier, coastal, inland, rural, urban, and major provinces/cities, the lives of slaves and POWs in the empire vs. Europe and the Americas, the lives of women, relations with European and Iranian merchants/diplomats, Waqfs and the evolution of urban planning in the main cities. Each subject is covered from as many sources and perspectives as possible.

Highly recommended.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great book on ottoman foreign policy, May 16, 2010

By 

GLOMASTER "GLOMASTER" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It (Library of Ottoman Studies) (Paperback)

If you want to know about foreign policy with Europe this is great. Unfortunately it focuses too much on Europe without delving into the relationship with the Safavids to the East, the Russian Empire to the north, or northern Africa to the south. that is why I am only giving it three stars. If it was titled Ottoman Empire and the world to its West it would have gotten 5!