The Month of Ramadan and Fasting in Islam
Historical Background The passage begins with the author’s comments on the political struggles between the Ottoman Empire and the Christian […]
T21a
The Followers of the Kalenderi Santon
The Character of the Santon The Santon, or holy man, described in the previous section was known for his strict
The Bektafi Sect Among the Janissaries
One of the more subtle and unusual sects among the Janissaries is called the Bektafi, named after a leader called
The Two Main Sects Turks and Persians
Among the followers of Mahomet, there are two major sects whose members are often hostile toward each other: the Turks
The Covenant with Christians
The covenant or agreement between Mahomet and the Christians is sometimes denied by the Turks as being an official act
The Importance of Skilled Interpreters
One of the biggest challenges for ambassadors in the Ottoman Empire was that most interpreters were born subjects of the
Suspicion Is Enough for Destruction
In the Ottoman Empire, if a powerful man was suspected of planning rebellion or causing unrest, suspicion alone could lead