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the tulip era of the ottoman empire

The Tulip Era of the Ottoman Empire: Luxury, Reform, and the Birth of Modern Istanbul

Imagine an Istanbul spring night in the early 1720s. As dusk settles over the Golden Horn, thousands of lamps and can...

religion and early christianity in cappadocia turkey

Sacred Anatolia: Religion and Early Christianity in Cappadocia

Beneath the iconic, sunrise-filled spectacle of hot air balloons lies a deeper, more ancient magic in Cappadocia, Tur...

ottoman artist archaeologist and founder of istanbul archaeological museums - osman hamdi bey

Osman Hamdi Bey: Ottoman Artist, Archaeologist & Founder of Istanbul Archaeological Museums

In an era when the Ottoman Empire was often depicted by the West as the "Sick Man of Europe," a singular figure emerg...

constantinople during the crusades

Constantinople During the Crusades: The Rise, Betrayal, and Fall of Byzantium’s Greatest City

In the annals of medieval history, no city epitomized the confluence of faith, power, commerce, and civilization more...

topkapi palace museum istanbul

Topkapi Palace: Istanbul's Iconic Museum

Dominating the historical peninsula of Istanbul at the breathtaking confluence of the Golden Horn, the Bosporus, and ...

from byzantion to istanbul - historic names of istanbul

From Byzantion to Istanbul: The Historic Names of Istanbul, World’s Most Layered City

Few cities on Earth possess the profound, name-bearing legacy of the metropolis straddling the Bosporus. Known today ...