In a concise and colorful style, Suraiya Faroqhi lays out the history of one of the most powerful empires of the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern era. At its height, the Ottoman Empire spread over three continents and matched the size of the Roman Empire, covering the territories of modern-day Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Greece. This text traces the political history of the Ottomans from the 14th century to the dissolution of the empire after World War I and employs a balanced approach that encompasses economic, social, and cultural history. The result is a unique, colorful overview of