The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest and most influential empires in world history. Its reach extended to three continents and it survived for more than six centuries, but its history is too often colored by the memory of its bloody final throes on the battlefields of World War I.

In this magisterial work-the first definitive account written for the general reader-renowned scholar and journalist Caroline Finkel lucidly recounts the epic story of the Ottoman Empire from its origins in the thirteenth century through its destruction in the twentieth.

This is the guidebook to Turkey's new long-distance Cultural Route, complete with route description, map, historical background, and places to see. The route follows the Ottoman gentleman adventurer Evliya Celibi on his way to Mecca in 1671; it runs for 600km from the Sea of Marmara via Bursa, Kutahya and Afyon to Usak and Simav. The route follows, as far as possible, ancient paved roads and visits the cities, sights and tiny villages that Evliya rode through and recorded in his "Seyatname" ("Book of Travels"). It can be explored by walkers, horse-riders and bikers. The UN has declared Evliya 'Man of the Year' for 2011, the 400th anniversary of his birth. This route is a practical addition to these celebrations - it enables modern travellers to directly experience Evliya's life, times and travels. It is brought to you by the noted Ottoman historian and author of "Osman's Dream", Caroline Finkel, and the originator of 'The Lycian Way', Kate Clow.

The Ottoman chronicles recount that the first sultan, Osman, dreamt of the dynasty he would found - a tree, fully-formed, emerged from his navel, symbolising the vigour of his successors and the extent of their domains. This is the first book to tell the full story of the Ottoman dynasty that for six centuries held sway over territories stretching, at their greatest, from Hungary to the Persian Gulf, and from North Africa to the Caucasus. Understanding the realization of Osman's vision is essential for anyone who seeks to understand the modern world.