This stimulating and ground-breaking book surveys the history of the Ottoman Empire from its obscure origins in the early 1300s, through its rise to the status of a world power and its struggles in the 17th century. Written in an accessible, narrative style, The Ottoman Empire examines the internal structure and politics of the Ottoman dynasty, revealing the growth and development of the power, politics, and institutions through which the Sultans ruled. Colin Imber draws from a wealth of multi-lingual sources, many of which have never been previously translated into English, and presents a fresh view on one of the most important, yet misunderstood, empires of the pre-modern age.