Private and Royal Life in the Ottoman Palace

Book excerpt: Topkapi Palace was the official and primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for almost four centuries of their 624-year reign. This illustrated guide to Topkapi Palace (the heart of a vast transcontinental empire until the mid-nineteenth century) explores Ottoman history, as it relates to specific sections of the palace. Ortayli, a famed Turkish historian and scholar, introduces the audience to the outer and inner sections of the palace as well as the family quarters, providing them with profound background information about their functions, architecture and decorations. His references to the palace customs, people, and particular events present the reader with a living history.