Turkish Culture and Society - World Affairs Council

MET MUSEUM: THE GREATER OTTOMAN EMPIRE
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grot/hd_grot.htm
Sixteenth- and seventeenth-century conquests afforded the Ottomans control of many ports,
as well as exclusive access to the Black Sea, from which even Russian vessels were excluded.
This led to a great increase in trade among the provinces. As the largest city in western Asia
or Europe, Istanbul was the natural center of this commerce.
SAUDI ARAMCO WORLD: OTTOMAN ART
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198704/the.golden.age.of.ottoman.art.htm
Ottoman art flowered magnificently in the sixteenth century. With unprecedented
prolificacy, court artists created splendid examples of illuminated and illustrated manuscripts;
objects fashioned of gold, silver, jade, rock crystal, ivory, and inlaid wood; ceremonial and
functional arms and armor; brocaded satin and velvet kaftans and furnishings; flat-woven
and pile rugs; and a variety of ceramic vessels and tiles.
IZNIK TILES AND POTTERY
http://www.armory.com/~ssahin/articles/article6.html
http://www.turkish-tiles.com/
http://ceramic-studio.net/ceramic-history/czech-republic/iran_and_turkey/
http://www.bazaarturkey.com/what's%20new/turkish-tile.htm
These websites give a brief history of the town of Iznik and illustrate its tile and pottery
making traditions.
EBRU MARBLING
http://www.desertdance.net/ebru2.htm
http://www.uoguelph.ca/~agokcen/ebruli/
http://www.metacafe.com/tags/marbling/
These websites discuss ebru, which came to be known as “Turkish papers.” Many specimens
in their collections and in the several album amicorum books are visible today in various
museums. Also, early texts dealing with ebru, such as "Discourse on Decorating Paper in the
Turkish Manner," published in 1664 by Athanasius Kircher in Rome, helped to disseminate
the knowledge of this kind of marbling art. There is agreement amongst scholars that the socalled
Turkish Papers were a colorful influence on the book arts in Europe.
KILIM AND CARPET WEAVING
http://www.accd.edu/pac/humaniti/1301_tc/xornelas/Projj.htm
Carpet weaving is one of the most ancient crafts in Turkey, and for centuries, women have
played a pivotal role in their creation. This website provides information on the carpet
weaving process and the role of Turkish women in this ancient art. Photos are included.
THE TREASURES OF ALA-A-DIN
http://www.bewilderingstories.com/issue79/treasures.html
Ornamentation of jewelry, gold, and silver artifacts from the Islamic period is renowned for
its splendor. Jewelry and other ornaments, particularly rings and amulets, were, in many
cases, thought to be imbued with magical powers and which could provide protection from
the “evil eye.” This article gives a brief overview of the history of jewelry in Muslim
dynasties, and relates it to the story of The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night.
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