Subjects of the Sultan: Culture and Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire [Paperback]

Suraiya Faroqhi (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 10, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1850437602 | ISBN-13: 978-1850437604

To date no book has explored the day-to-day life of the common people during the centuries of Ottoman rule. Suraiya Foroqhi here explores the urban world of the Ottoman lands from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century. She describes the social significance of the popular arts and crafts of the period and examines the interaction among the diverse populations and classes of the Empire. She also brings to life the banalities associated with everyday life, such as bathing, the market, loving and grieving--all explored for the first time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE'[Faroqhi] has produced here an impressive and thoughtful study of Ottoman social culture which is witnessed by her acknowledgement of the work of well-respected scholars, the inclusion of a chronology which usefully highlights relevant cultural events, and a superb bibliography of English, French, German and Turkish publications...a stimulating read.'-Jennifer M Scarce, University of DundeeINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TURKISH STUDIES'One of the most prolific of present-day Ottoman historians...her forte is her complete ease in using the Ottoman archives not only to capture and retell the stories buried in the records but also to weave some sense of the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of a distant empire into a story that is accessible to a literate audience.'-Virginia H. Askan, McMaster UniversityMESA BULLETIN'...interesting and erudite...stimulating...This book is highly suitable as a text for courses in Ottoman history or Middle Eastern cultural history. The prose is clear and accessible, and the presentation not overly complex or obscure. Its mixture of broad analysis and striking detail make it an attractive initiation for undergraduates into debates about Ottoman cultural history. Graduate students, too, would benefit from a close reading of the text, which is studded with off-hand questions and asides that could easily launch entire dissertations. Her command of the historical literature and ability to identify potential lines of research are truly impressive. For anyone seeking a well-informed overview of Ottoman cultural history, Faroqhi's book will stand out as a valuable guide.'-James Grehan, Portland State University

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris (November 10, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1850437602
• ISBN-13: 978-1850437604
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #617,476 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource on Ottoman society, January 31, 2009

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doc peterson (Portland, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Subjects of the Sultan: Culture and Daily Life in the Ottoman Empire (Paperback)

While the material detailed in _Subjects of the Sultan_ admittedly has narrow appeal (those with an interest in the social history of the Ottoman Empire are few and far between), it really is an excellent resource and a top-shelf social history.

Initially I was dismayed in reading Faroqhi's introduction in which she writes that the focus of the book primarily is on "the practice and reception of certain arts ... in particular architecture and the decorative arts" as the subtitle "culture and daily life in the Ottoman Empire" was what drew me to the book. And while a good portion of the book does discuss art and architecture, there is much on Ottoman society as well.

The first third of the book discussess Ottoman society, particularly the religious divisons within the empire (not just Christian / Muslim, but especially sunni / shi'ii), and the political and economic divide between reaya (subjects) and askeri (servants of the sultan). Her insights on these divisions within the empire are much more nuanced than I have read in previous books on the subject, giving a richer, fuller understanding of the peoples of this part of the world. The chapter on women in the Ottoman empire was particularly engaging, as Faroqhi discussed a wide variety of issues from legal rights, education and marriage to the economic position of women and their role as patrons of the arts. These sections alone were worth the price of the book.

In spite of the subtitle, the focus primarily is on art and architecture: its function in both an official and social capacity, which was of less interest personally and professionally. Still, this is a veritable gold-mine of detail and information historiographically as well as from a social history standpoint on the peoples of the Ottoman empire.