This stimulating and ground-breaking book surveys the history of the Ottoman Empire from its obscure origins in the early 1300s, through its rise to the status of a world power, and its "times of trouble" in the seventeenth century. Drawing both on existing scholarship and research as well as original source materials, The Ottoman Empire provides a preliminary narrative of key events and examines the internal structure and politics of the Ottoman dynasty, revealing the growth and development of the power, politics, and institutions through which the Sultans ruled the Empire. The Ottoman Empire draws from a wealth of multi-lingual sources, many of which are previously untranslated, and presents a fresh view on one of the most important, yet misunderstood, Empires of the pre-modern age. For many laymen in the West, the Ottoman Empire is almost a pejorative term. High-school students learn about the "sick man of Europe" prior to World War I or are well versed in the massacres of Armenians within the empire. The successor state to the empire, Turkey, is poised to join the European Union; so it would be wise for general readers to receive a balanced account of the empire's growth and structure. Imber, senior lecturer in Turkish at the University of Manchester, has certainly provided that account. The first quarter of this well-written book is a chronological history ending in the mid-seventeenth century. The remainder of the book is devoted to topics such as the organization of the military, the legal system, and administrative control of the provinces. What emerges is a portrait of an imperial system that provided reasonably efficient government and surprising opportunities for both non-Turks and non-Muslims. Jay Freeman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "...faculty looking for a good textbook...and students seeking a valuable introduction...will both be well served..."--Jonathan Grant, History: Reviews of New Books "Clearly outperforms, in terms of comprehensiveness, accuracy, and insight, both generalist works written by non-specialists and introductions to the subject by scholars." --Colin Heywood, SOAS, University of London "Colin Imber's The Ottoman Empire describes the Empire in its early days and at its height. His book offers fascinating insights."-- Michiel Leezenberg, NCR Handelsblad "...an intelligent and well-researched account of the first half of Ottoman history. Maps, glossary, list of sources, bibliography and an expert index add to its utility for the specialist as well as for the general reader."--I. Metin Kunt, The Anglo-Hellenic Review Colin Imber is Senior Lecturer in Turkish at the University of Manchester.