ottoman empire, 1288-1918

Examines the main campaigns of the Ottoman Empire, and the part played by elite soldiers such as the Janissaries and sipahis, while discussing the social and economic impact of their conquests, which stretched from Vienna to the upper Arab peninsula.

Vlad III, the 15th century ruler of what is now southern Romania, had a terrifying nickname, the Impaler. It originated with the grisly way he dealt with his enemies: He demanded that their not-yet-dead bodies be impaled on stakes. Vlad’s reputation for brutality only grew and later became entwined with the legend of the vampire Dracula. This in-depth account presents the true story of Vlad the Impaler and his fight against the Ottoman Empire, a struggle that makes the villain a hero to some. An appealing design and features such as sidebars and fact boxes make this biography an especially high-interest read for young historians.

The first in a two volume set that looks at the political, social, and culture aspects of the Ottoman Empire.

"Ruling from 1299 until 1922, the Ottoman Empire was one of the biggest and longest-lasting empires in history. Although weak leadership, a failing economy, and wars with neighboring Russia and other countries led to its decline, the empire left a lasting legacy for its arts, trade, government, and multiculturalism. This ... volume chronicles the rise and decline of the Ottoman Empire, including its beginnings in nomadic cultures, its toppling of the Byzantine Empire, and its peak under Sleyman the Magnificent, as well as the various conflicts in which it was often embroiled"--Amazon.com.

Contains over four hundred alphabetically arranged entries that provide information on major events, people, institutions, and terms related to the Ottoman Empire, and includes photographs, maps, and a chronology.

Aram Haigaz was fifteen when he lost most of his family due to the Ottoman Turkish government's attack on Armenia. He and his mother were put on a forced march toward the Syrian desert without food, water, or shelter, as part of the systematic plan to annihilate the Christian Armenian population of Turkey in 1915. In order to survive, he converted to Islam and spent four years living as a Muslim servant and shepherd among Kurdish tribes in the rugged mountains. He ultimately escaped and came to the United States in 1921.

Inspired by a true story, this relates the tale of siblings Sosi, Shahen, and Mariam who survive the Armenian genocide of 1915 by escaping from Turkey alone over the mountains.

An English boy, shipwrecked, hungry, and lost, finds his way into the court of Constantine where he is interpreted as a symbol of good luck and, as such, ordered to be kept always near the king.