Imperial Legacy

The Ottoman Empire ranks alongside the Roman and Byzantine as one of the most powerful and long-lasting imperial systems in world history. In existence from the late thirteenth century until 1923 and embracing at its height most of Southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, it was certainly the most imposing and arguably the most influential political system over the course of more than a millennium of Islamic history. Though the Ottoman Empire left an indelible mark on people in many parts of the world, in the modern West its influence is little understood. For many living in former Ottoman-controlled regions, this heritage is often rejected or misrepresented as unwanted alien domination. Imperial Legacy gathers together distinguished scholars to demonstrate how the Ottoman legacy continues to shape patterns of behavior and perception among the peoples of Western Asia, Northern Africa, and Southeastern Europe. The authors also explore how this complex history is reinscribed by nations and ethnic groups in the building of ideologies and identities today. Ranging widely through issues including politics, diplomacy, education, language, and religion, these essays also address the different regional perspectives on the Ottoman Legacy found in the Arab world, the Balkans, and the Republic of Turkey. Imperial Legacy enriches our understanding of the Ottoman past and provides needed insights into the post-Ottoman present.