Historical Dictionary of the Ottoman Empire (2nd edition)

Much of recorded history consists of the growth of massive empires in the heartland of Central Asia and the corresponding development of defensive empires in the peripheral areas of India, China, Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, either in an attempt to hold back their incursions or established as a result of their successful invasions. Examples of the defensive category might include the Roman Empire, the Ming Dynasty in China or, more recently, the Russian Empire. Examples of successful invaders include the Mughal Empire in India, the Manchus in China, and, to our point, the Ottomans in the Eastern Mediterranean.

What...