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
Food is an important part of our understanding of the Ottoman Empire, and much of what the former Ottoman territories retained from this period is found on the dinner table. But what is Ottoman cuisine, and what exactly are its legacies today? We spoke with Dr. Febe Armanios, the Philip Battell and Sarah Frances Cowles Stewart… Continue reading Yogurt, Coffee, and Phyllo Dough – an Introduction to Ottoman Gastronomy
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
The Habsburg Empire tried to conquer Belgrade from the Ottoman Empire several times: in 1688, in 1717, and then again in 1789. 1717 was the only time the Habsburgs retained long-term control over Belgrade, and between 1717 and 1739, Belgrade became the capital of the semi-autonomous Kingdom of Serbia within the Habsburg Empire. Although brief,… Continue reading The hidden traces of Habsburg Belgrade
The city-fortress of Palmanova is well known to us at Extinguished Countries and to our eager readers. But how many of you know that, some 300 km further east, there is another star-shaped city? A city that was attacked by the Ottoman Empire six times, and managed to repel it just as many times? We… Continue reading The Habsburg’s boat return
