Ottoman Empire

Leonardo da Vinci and the Ottoman Empire

Five hundred years after his death, Leonardo da Vinci’s interaction with the Ottomans is memorialised in his designs for a bridge and his overtures to the Ottoman Sultans of the time.

Turkey marks 155th anniversary of Circassian tragedy

The Circassians, who are predominantly Muslim, suffered greatly under the Russian Empire and were banished from their homelands in 1864.

Portrait of Suleiman the Magnificent sells in London for $6.9M

The portrait of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, thought to have been made by one of the followers of the Italian painter Gentile Bellini, was sold for 5.3 million pounds ($6.9 million). The sale price was well above the reserve.

The Islamophobic signs that defined the Christchurch terrorist

One of the terrorists who killed at least 50 people at two mosques had several Islamophobic names and dates of war against Muslims inscribed on his gun, while Turks were shown as one of the main targets.

Ottoman legacy in Bulgaria needs restoration

Many Ottoman mosques, baths and historical complexes in the southern Bulgarian city Plovdiv are in need of restoration.

Paris Peace Conference 1919: The 100 Years’ Crisis in post-Ottoman lands

Attempts at building nation-states after the end of World War I have done little more than raise the foundations for a vicious cycle of conflicts in former Ottoman Empire territories.

Bosphorus: the crossroads of trade, civilisation and legends

Here are 9 things you need to know about the Bosphorus Strait which connects the continents of Europe and Asia right in the heart of Istanbul.

South Africans revere famous Ottoman scholar

Abu Bakr Effendi, famous Ottoman scholar during reign of Sultan Abdulaziz, was sent to South Africa in 1862.

An archery contest carries 500 years of Ottoman tradition

Turkey is instrumental in reviving traditional archery with the annual Conquest Cup that celebrates the anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Russian library hosts largest Ottoman-era collection

The Russian State Library hosts the largest Ottoman-era collection of over 35,000 Turkish books and other printed materials collected and exchanged since 1928.

Erdogan says Turkey shares 'historical pain of Armenian citizens'

On the commemoration of the 1915 events of World War I, President Erdogan says Turkey will continue to find solutions to the problems of the country's ethnic Armenian citizens.

'Every small group can’t have its own country'

Edward J. Erickson, a US army veteran and historian, explains how ethnic tensions unravelled in the Middle East following World War I.