From TheBestLinks.com
Early on as the Ottoman Turks drew out the Byzantines from Anatolia and later pursued them into Europe, the pursuit was a part of the Jihad (or Holy War) against Christianity, and the first Ottoman rulers called themselves Gazi, or Holy Warriors. But, as the Ottomans moved further west and the assimilation of the Greek and Balkan cultures progressed, the Turkic leaders themselves absorbed some of the culture of the conquered peoples. The alien culture was gradually added to the Turks' own, creating the characteristic Ottoman culture. After the capture of Constantinople in 1453, most churches were left intact and only a few (including, notably, Hagia Sophia) were turned into mosques. The Ottoman court life in many aspects assembled ancient traditions of the Persian Shahs, but had many Greek and European influences.
The Ottoman Turks had a high tolerance of alien cultures and religions, at least with medieval measures. For centuries, the Ottoman Empire was the refuge of the Jews of Europe.
The Harem
The Harem was a small world in itself. The concubines could live in or around the palace for their entire life, and it supported them with whatever they needed. Lesser concubines did all the chores such as serving food and making the beds of their betters. Eunuch slaves did the hard work such shopping and maintaining the braziers and candelabras. Some concubines, especially the sultan's favorites, lived a life of extreme luxury.
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The Ottoman Way
The culture that evolved around the court was known as the Ottoman Way. To get a high position in the empire, one must be skilled in the Way. It included knowing both Persian, Arabic and Ottoman Turkish and how to behave in court, in front of the sultan, and on formal and religious occations. The Ottoman Way also used to separate the nobles from the lower classes. Peasants and villagers were called Turks, while nobles were Ottomans.
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See Arabic calligraphy, Islamic art and external links to Ottoman calligraphy (http://www.byegm.gov.tr/YAYINLARIMIZ/newspot/2002/may-jun/n14.htm), miniature painting (http://www.byegm.gov.tr/YAYINLARIMIZ/newspot/2003/jan-apr/n15.htm), textiles (http://www.byegm.gov.tr/yayinlarimiz/NEWSPOT/1999/JAN/N24.htm), portrait painting (http://www.byegm.gov.tr/yayinlarimiz/NEWSPOT/2000/May/N22.htm) and manuscript illumination (http://www.byegm.gov.tr/YAYINLARIMIZ/newspot/2001/july-aug/n7.htm) from the Turkish Ministry of Culture.
Ottoman Jewelry and Handicraft
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See these examples of Ottoman Architecture:
See also:
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