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Episodes
- S1 E1 - Sublime Porte: Visions of the Ottoman EmpireMay 25, 201732minHow should one consider the vast history of the Ottoman Empire? Professor Harl sets the stage for the lectures to come with a consideration of key themes in the empire's journey from "Sublime Porte" to "Sick Man of Europe" - as well as the distorting images of Orientalism. #HistoryFree trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E2 - Seljuk Turks in Asia MinorMay 25, 201730minOttoman sultans traced their origins to the Oghuz Turks of the Central Eurasian steppes, whose nomadic ways of life were transformed by Islam. Follow along as the subsequent Seljuk Turks evolve from raiders to conquerors - and spark conflict with Western Europe's religious pilgrims.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E3 - The Islamization of Asia MinorMay 25, 201730minFirst, learn how the Seljuk sultans created an Islamic Turkish Anatolia, which would become the heartland of future Ottoman sultans. Then, explore Seljuk developments in architecture, decorative art, and religion - including domed mosques, medresses (religious schools), and "whirling dervishes."Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E4 - Ottoman Sultans of BursaMay 25, 201731minMeet the sultans who transformed the Ottoman sultanate into an imperial state. Among these: Orhan, who made Bursa the state's capital; Murad I and Bayezid I, who incorporated Asia Minor into the Ottoman state; and "the Thunderbolt," who forged an empire of tributaries in the Balkans and Anatolia.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E5 - Defeat and Recovery, 1402-1451May 25, 201731minThe defeat of Sultan Bayezid by Tamerlane at the Battle of Angora revealed the fragile nature of the nascent Ottoman sultanate. Focus on the empire's recovery under Mehmed I Çelebi and Murad II, who made the empire into a bureaucratic monarchy and defeated the Hungarians at the Battle of Varna.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E6 - Mehmet the Conqueror, 1451-1481May 25, 201731minMehmet the Conqueror made the Ottoman sultanate a leading Muslim power by 1481. In this lecture, investigate his remarkable rule, which included the conquest of Constantinople, the remodeling of the Hagia Sophia as a mosque, and the construction of the grand, walled mini-city of Topkapı.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E7 - Selim the Grim and the Conquest of CairoMay 25, 201731minIn 1512, Selim emerged victorious from the ashes of a civil war and executed all challenges to his rule (earning him the sobriquet "the Grim"). Go inside Selim's military campaigns against Iran, Syria, and Egypt, which helped make the Ottoman Empire virtually synonymous with the "house of Islam."Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E8 - Suleiman the Magnificent, 1520-1566May 25, 201732minSuleiman the Magnificent presided over the zenith of the Ottoman Empire. You'll learn how, during his 46-year reign, he expanded civil bureaucracy, waged a naval war in the Mediterranean against Habsburg Spain, and also altered the imperial succession - sowing what some historians consider the seeds of the empire's downfall.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E9 - Sultans in Topkapı, 1566-1648May 25, 201732minTurn now to a period of decline, most notable for the emergence of the harem as a powerful political institution. Meet sultans including Murad III, a patron of the arts (especially miniaturist painting) and Ahmet I, an ineffective 13-year-old who presided over the "Sultanate of Women."Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E10 - The Sultan-Caliph and His ServantsMay 25, 201731minOttoman sultans played two roles: as sultan/warrior and as the caliph of Sunni Islam. Here, unpack the role of the sultan in the Ottoman Empire, including his relationship with the ulema (religious experts), his central administration (called "the Porte"), and with his viziers.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E11 - Timariots, Peasants, and PastoralistsMay 25, 201731minBetween 1500 and 1800, the Ottoman Empire spread across more than 1 million square miles - but economic activity varied from region to region. Discover how groups like pastoralists and the Muslim gentry (timariots) played their own critical roles in the drama and resiliency of the rural Ottoman economy.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E12 - Trade, Money, and CitiesMay 25, 201731minTrade was vital to the Ottoman Empire - as well as a cause for its decline from "Porte" to "Sick Man of Europe." Trace some of the empire's most prominent trade routes, including the iconic Silk Road, as well as the British penetration of Ottoman markets in 1838.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E13 - Arabs under the Ottoman CaliphMay 25, 201731minFor 300 years, Ottoman Sultans ruled the majority of Arabs. How did "the Porte" successfully administer the diverse Arab provinces under its control? How did "the Porte" respect Islamic traditions? Why were the Arabs so loyal to the empire up until the early 19th century?Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E14 - Christians and Jews under the PorteMay 25, 201731minUnder the Ottomans, Christian and Jewish subjects were classified as dhimmi ("people of the book") and were afford legal protection and the right to practice their faith. Explore daily life in some of the Christian and Jewish communities (millet) scattered across the empire.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E15 - Sunni Islam and Ottoman CivilizationMay 25, 201731minGo deeper inside the details of Ottoman civilization. Among the topics you'll explore are the transformation of Turkish into a new literary language; the importance of calligraphy and miniaturist painting; intellectual developments in history and geography; and, finally, the cultural influence of the Sufis.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E16 - Ottoman ConstantinopleMay 25, 201733minWhat was Constantinople like under Ottoman control? Professor Harl shows how the empire became a veritable paradise among Muslim cities, with markets and mosque complexes, social activities and public spaces, and the grandeur of Topkapı, which you'll see through the eyes of French Ambassadors sent in 1536.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E17 - The Sultan at War: The Ottoman ArmyMay 25, 201731minSultans between the reigns of Murad II and Mehmet IV commanded one of the finest armies in Eurasia. Discover how the Ottoman imperial army matched Europe's best, how money was raised to meet the rising costs of war, why the Ottoman army suffered decisive defeats, and more.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E18 - Sultan and Shah: Challenge of Safavid IranMay 25, 201731minThe Ottoman Sultan and the Safavid Shah clashed frequently over strategic lands between the two civilizations. First, learn why Safavid Iran was the religious and ideological rival of "the Porte." Then, examine five major wars the Ottomans waged against their rivals between 1514 and 1722.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E19 - Sultan and Emperor: War in the WestMay 25, 201731minVisit the empire's northern border in Europe to explore its military clashes with the West. Why was fighting in Central Europe so indecisive? Why did the Long-Turkish War prove so embarrassing for three sultans? How did "the Porte" come to ease tensions with the Habsburgs after 1605?Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E20 - Sultan and Venice: War in the MediterraneanMay 25, 201732minLearn why Ottoman success at sea in the 1500s stemmed from Suleiman's strategic vision and the skills of his admirals. Along the way, you'll investigate Suleiman's war against Venice, the Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and battles with another European naval power: Portugal.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E21 - Köprülü Viziers and Imperial RevivalMay 25, 201731minProfessor Harl reveals how a dynasty of Grand Viziers and bureaucrats rescued the Ottoman Empire from factions and court intrigue, then guided the empire through various crises between 1683 and 1699, helping to end the ruinous war against Venice, as well as end political instability within the House of Osman.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E22 - The Empire at Bay, 1699-1798May 25, 201732minIn this lecture, learn why the 1699 Treaty of Karlowitz is a turning point in Ottoman history - another that marked the empire's steady decline into the "Sick Man of Europe." Central to this lecture: the Ottoman military's engagement with a powerful new Christian foe: Catherine the Great.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E23 - Napoleon Invades Ottoman EgyptMay 25, 201731minFrance's occupation of Egypt from 1798 to 1801 compromised the restoration of Ottoman rule in the country. And, as you'll learn, Napoleon's invasion also marked the first instance of the Muslim Middle East's encounter with modernity and political reforms based on the principles of the French Revolution.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E24 - Crisis: Muhammad Ali and Balkan NationalistsMay 25, 201731minLearn how Muhammad Ali exploited the confusion in Egypt after Napoleon's departure and, in 35 years, became the first successful Muslim ruler to transform Egypt into the literary and intellectual center of the Arabic-speaking world. Also, consider several Serbian and Greek revolts that rocked the Ottoman Empire.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
- S1 E25 - Tanzimat and Modernization, 1839-1876May 25, 201731minFirst, examine how the reforms of professional ministers led by Mustafa Reşid Paşa ushered in a massive reorganization (Tanzimat) of both the Ottoman State and Ottoman society. Then, consider how Tanzimat widened divisions within Ottoman society and failed to make the empire a member of the Concert of Europe.Free trial of The Great Courses Signature Collection or buy
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