People, encounters, places… the best from the Extinguished Countries.
Five centuries of Ottoman rule left Albania with far more than a few mosques and a handful of Turkish words: they reshaped the country’s religious make-up and, by way of contrast, the very idea of an Albanian nation. We discussed all this with Artan Puto, professor of Albanian history at the University of Tirana. Was… Continue reading An Empire as a Refuge: The Albanians and Five Centuries of Ottoman Rule
How are Crimean Tatars keeping their culture alive during a time when many have been displaced, yet again, from their homeland? For many Tatars, the answer is through sharing their culture with others, including food. We spoke with Kemal Seitveliyev, owner of Musafir, Kyiv’s most famous Tatar restaurant. A Crimean dish of manti, or dumplings.… Continue reading Carrying On Tatar Culture Through Food – An Interview with Kemal Seitveliyev
The current capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded in the 15th century following the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. Unlike cities that emerged in the same period elsewhere in Europe, Sarajevo was built without city walls. “At the time, being part of the Ottoman Empire was a sufficient guarantee of security,” says Emir O.… Continue reading A city without walls. How Sarajevo was born
Sometime around 1630, a scholar, clergyman and artist, son of a court jeweller, had a dream. In his dream, Evliya Çelebi (1611-1682) met Muhammed and other prophets of Islam, and in his excitement, asked for travel rather than blessings. The Prophet, in his wisdom, granted both. Over the next 40 years, Çelebi would devote himself… Continue reading A Restless Soul: The Wandering of Evliya Çelebi
Belgrade isn’t exactly the first city that comes to mind when thinking about the Ottoman legacy in the Balkans. The preserved remnants at Kalemegdan Fortress and the Bajrakli Mosque are mentioned in every guidebook worth its salt, but one might not expect to end up having lunch in a hammam dating from the first half… Continue reading An Unexpected Hammam In Downtown Belgrade
Our recent article, “The Ottoman Empire: A European History,” sparked a lively online debate, drawing criticism from those who view Ottoman history as something “far removed” from Europe. We selected six myths encountered in the comments or circulating online in discussions of the Ottoman Empire, and asked cultural anthropologist Jeremy F. Walton—who coordinates the ERC… Continue reading Six Myths About the Ottoman Empire
In Štivor, in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, a community of Italians from Trentino settled in the late 19th century. They speak a unique dialect, Stivoroto, which a group of linguists has decided to study as a way to also recount the history and traditions of this small community. We interviewed Rossella Montibeler and Marija Runić… Continue reading The history of Italians living in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the late 19th century
“Bečka škola” is a Croatian expression that literally means “Vienna school” and refers to a well-educated, refined person—someone who, in a sense, has been schooled in Vienna. For the past few weeks, however, “Bečka škola” has also been the title of a comedy series, currently available only on social media, which has been enjoying remarkable… Continue reading Bečka škola – the Croatian comedy series that flirts with nostalgia for Austria-Hungary
After the Republic of Venice and the Habsburg Empire, the third guide in Extinguished Countries will be dedicated to the Ottoman Empire, which received the highest number of votes in the poll among our readers. The Ottoman period, in several European countries, is often viewed very negatively, as a long occupation during which nothing good… Continue reading The Ottoman Empire, a European History
Between 1869 and 1910, the population of Vienna grew from 630,000 to over 2 million. The Austrian capital was then the centre of a vast multi-ethnic empire that now encompasses 13 European states. As such, the city is home to the palaces of power, the famous Hofburg complex (now the residence of the Austrian President)… Continue reading Vienna’s lesser-known imperial past
