Turkey: From the Selcuks to the Ottomans Stierlin, Henri

Following the fall of the Roman Empire, it was the Ottomans who inherited the tradition of the great civilizations of the ancient world. Their empire extended from the Near East to central Europe, and even in Mozart's day reached almost to the very gates of Vienna.

The political power of the Ottomans was matched by the empire's cultural splendour. Under the twin stars of Islam and the Byzantine legacy they created a civilization that has a secure place in the European tradition. Islamic architecture in Turkey peaked from the 14th to the 16th century, as the numerous mosques created by court architect Sinan, which dominate the skyline of Istanbul to this day, eloquently attest.

From the Seljuk period through the early Ottoman style of Iznik and Bursa to the classicism of Edirne and the masterpieces of Sinan, this book covers the signal achievements of Islamic architecture from the 13th to the 19th century. It provides detailed accounts of all the major buildings that reflect the power and glory of the Ottoman Empire and of Islam, and amid this panoply of cultural glories focuses not only on rulers but also on the great master builders.

RKV-175.Turkey:FromSelcuksToOttomans