Origins of Homosexuality in the Ottoman Empire According to historical records, homosexuality in the Ottoman Empire began during the reign of Orhan Bey, nearly at the time of the state’s founding. Influences from the Byzantine and Persian worlds introduced these practices to the Anatolian region, and by Orhan Bey’s time, relationships between men had already taken root in various social …
History of Beer in the Ottoman Empire The history of beer in the Ottoman Empire can be traced back to the 19th century. Sultan Abdulhamid II ruled the empire from 1876 to 1909, a period marked by both modernization and increased centralization of power in the hands of the sultan. During his reign, Western cultural influences permeated various aspects of …
Introduction: A Bloodline Secured by Bloodshed The Ottoman Empire, one of the most powerful dynasties in history, spanned over six centuries. But behind the grandeur of its palaces and military conquests lay a brutal political reality: the systematic elimination of male relatives to secure the throne. Known as **fratricide**, this practice was not only accepted but legalized, institutionalized, and, at …
The Scandinavians (or Vikings) are not at all distant for Turks, especially for the people in Constantinople with tattooed, large bodies and fighter identities. Scandinavia, home of the Vikings, is the common name of countries in the cold north, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Faroe Islands and Greenland. Scandinavia nurtures the film industry today with its stories and legends, …
The value of coffee and tea in human life cannot be underestimated. The plants that produce these commodities are not grown in every country, but it is known that tea was first used in China about 2000 years ago BC, and generally, British society is known for its tea. But the Turks also deserve credit! Turks have a Turkish tea …
Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha, aka Hızır Reis, was born on Midilli Island at the beginning of the 1470s. The name Hayrettin was given him by Suleyman the Magnificent (Kanuni Sultan Süleyman) for services he had done. It means “good for religion.” After leaving business and commerce professions, Barbaros started sailing; in the 1520s, he organized raids to the Mediterranean shores and …
Combining truth and legend, with black eye patches and black skull flags, pirates are the fearful nightmares of sailors. Nowadays, pirates depicted in movies are barbarian haramis who seize the ships for the booty, especially in the open seas, and kill people mercilessly. However, the term Pirate in the Ottoman evokes many different meanings. Would it surprise you if we …
The trend of nostalgia in the consumption of contemporary culture has been experiencing intense popularity in recent years. The styles of past times are sought in many scenes, from clothing to artificial architecture to music. In this respect, Classic Turkish Music draws attention with both its source and its inhabitants. Though historians and musicologists cannot agree on many points, the …
Although it is known in geography and astronomy education that Greenwich is the starter meridian, it was the Million Stone in Sultanahmet during the Roman Empire era. Later, Hagia Sophia served as the starting meridian to determine the time. While the information about time and astronomy changes day by day, the institutions we call timing rooms draw attention as the …
I seem to hear that many who read the title smile and say, “Would it be candy’s policy?”. However, if the subject is Ottoman and Ancestry, each word carries a different meaning and is selected carefully. Especially, during the bairam days we remember the rock candy (akide şekeri), and now it has a nostalgic value. It will attract your attention …