Arts/Performing Arts
The “Golden Age” was a period when art prospered and developed. Suleiman the Magnificent’s reign: 1520-1566
Mimar Sinan (1539–1588), an Islamic architect, constructed buildings that demonstrate great artistic skill; this helped him gain fame throughout the Ottoman Empire. He designed religious buildings and mosques. These buildings amount to 334. The Hagia Sophia played an important role in inspiring the style of architecture during this period. Istanbul: The location for most of Suleiman’s architectural projects. Sinan built: -Mosque of Süleyman I the Magnificent, Istanbul, 1550-1557: This mosque was built for Suleiman the Magnificent. It contains the mausoleums of Sultan Süleyman, Hürrem (Roxelane), and Sinan. Minarets: towers that all mosques have. They are the location of prayers in Islam. (The Mosque of Suleiman has 4). The two taller minarets have 3 balconies (called “serefe”) while the shorter minarets have 2 - in this mosque. -Şehzade Mosque (“Prince’s Mosque”): The death of Suleiman’s son (Şehzade Mehmed) in 1543 was the inspiration for this. -Rüstem Pasha Mosque: It was built for Suleiman’s daughter’s husband (husband’s name: Rüstem Pasha). -Mihrimah Sultan Mosque (Edirnekapı): This creation was designed for Princess Mihrimah. (Suleiman’s favorite daughter). -Hadim Ibrahim Pasha Mosque: Built for Hadim Ibrahim Pasha. Cairo: Known for the carpets produced there. Cairo and Tabriz influenced the style of Ottoman carpets. Designs became less geometric and more detailed. The Anatolian-Turkish style previously used eventually became obsolete. İznik: - Known for pottery and tiles. Chinese ceramics- influenced ceramics in the Ottoman Empire. Bursa: - Known for silk trade. The destruction of the Mongol Empire led to Iranian silk production being boosted. China to Persia Silk Road trade: Bursa served as an important part point that traders could stop at. Performing Arts: Court music - A popular form of music in the Ottoman Empire. Çengi - female belly dancers. Köçek - male dancers. These male dancers performed with Cambaz. (circus acrobats) Meddah - one person that told a story and played the role of all the characters. |
Medicine
In the medicine field, the Ottomans helped to develop hospitals and healthcare. Along with that, the Ottomans built institutions of advanced learning such as medical schools. Some of the reasons they built this was to counter foreign and missionary influence within the Ottoman Empire, and they also wanted to improve their public educational systems.
Education/Literature
Education: Mimar Sinan built buildings for education as well as the mosques he is most known for. Children would start off their education by going to Primary schools (Sibyan Schools), then they would attend Madrasahs, after that- Enderun School, and finally- Military Educational Institutions. Schools taught the Arabic language, grammar, logic, ethics, literature, mathematics, and controversial topics. Children started school at age 4 up to age 10. It depended on the intelligence of the child- teachers and parents decided.
Poetry: There is a visible Persian influence in poetry. The original Turkish language was altered to resonate with the Persian style of poetry. This type of writing is called Divan Literature. (“Divan” means “all of the works created by a poet”). Ghazal: Ghazal is a type of poetry that contains rhyming couplets and a refrain (or chorus if applied to music). Mesnevi: Mesnevi is poetry that has a deeper spiritual meaning. It is made up of couplets. Süleyman: Süleyman was a poet himself. This encouraged the rise of other poets. A famous excerpt written by Süleyman: “The people think of wealth and power as the greatest fate, But in this world a spell of health is the best state. What men call sovereignty is a worldly strife and constant war; Worship of God is the highest throne, the happiest of all estates.” Another: “Celîs-i halvetim varım habîbim mâh-ı tâbânım Enîsim mahremim varım güzeller şâhı sultânım” Translation: My resident of solitude, my everything, my beloved, my shining moon My friend, my privacy, my everything, my shah of beautifuls, my sultan Some of Bâḳî’s works: Mersiye-i Hazret-i Süleymân Hân, Elegy for His Excellency Süleymân Khan Bâḳî was known as “The Sultan of Poets” because his poetry was very admired. Famous poets: Süleyman, Fużūlī, Bâḳî, Hayâlî, Mihri Hatun (“Sappho of the Ottomans”), Hubbi Hatun, etc. Literature that wasn't poetry wasn't that common/popular. Writers mostly wrote nonfiction. |
Sports/Entertainment
Some popular sports of the Ottoman Empire include oil wrestling (where wrestlers douse themselves in olive oil and win by taking hold of the opponent's kisbet). Also, archery -sport where one uses a bow to shoot an arrow, occasionally on a horse, by using the Turkish bow. This sport further developed during the Ottoman Empire- , and Jereed - game in which opponents throw spears at each other while on horseback .
For the Ottomans, sources of entertainment were found through court dances (different types included performances by Çengis, Köçeks, and by Curcuna dancers, each dancing in different ways). These sports and sources of entertainment had been influenced by outside cultures, because as the empire expanded, it gained new perspectives on each activity. Sports like oil wrestling are still seen today, and archery still continues as a popular sport. |
Discovery/Inventions
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Some inventions made by the Ottoman Empire included steam turbines, mechanical alarm clocks, spring-driven astronomical clocks. The early versions of steam turbines became the gateway to modern steam turbines, which produce around 80% of the electrical power in the world. Also, the mechanical alarm clocks and spring-driven astronomical clocks built during this time were more precise compared to the ones made before.