101 Writing Prompts and Ideas:

Fiction & Non-Fiction.

By Christin Sander

Writing Prompts and Ideas to spark creativity

Source: self

Writing Prompts for Creative and Non-fiction Writers

Christin Sander
I love to write and have found an appreciation for the benefits that come from challenging myself to
engage in different writing styles.Writing is cathartic in many ways, from personal journals, to just
having a place to allow your mind to explore.The best writers are well-rounded and always open to
exploring new ideas and writing techniques.
I believe all writers thrive when they challenge themselves to do something different.For those of us
who primarily write non-fiction or informational articles, we should challenge ourselves to write more
creatively, developing characters and plots etc.It helps us to develop creative thinking and makes
our writing more meaningful because we learn to use powerful descriptions and ideas in our more
informational writing.Informational writing is better for us when our readers connect with it and it
engages them by invoking feeling.When is the last time an encyclopedia really got your blood
pumping? ;) When readers value what we write they come back for more. Creative writing gives that
edge to standard, informational writing.

On the other hand, those who primarily do creative writing can truly benefit by trying writing that is
more structured like how-to articles are.Structured writing allows creative ideas to flow more
cohesively.Structure is an important component to all writing and can help creative writers develop
story lines that flow nicely, are easy to follow, and understand.I know I quickly get frustrated with
stories that jump around or are carelessly worded and arranged.I appreciate the effort it takes for a
writer to really make their prose flow well.
Both writing styles work to enhance each other and we should avoid being only one type of
writer.Empower yourself to be the strongest writer possible by engaging in writing that makes you
uncomfortable on a regular basis.This opens your mind to new possibilities and enhances your
writing skills in the process.
Here I would like to share 101 random writing prompts or ideas.Some are creative and others are for
non-fiction work. The idea is to pick one that seems challenging and just start writing.Free writing is a
great way to get your ideas out on paper.Go back to it later and develop the good parts into other
works. Who knows? Maybe there will be some good hub ideas born here ;). You may also find that
you learn some things about yourself in the process and thats always wonderful too! I really believe
that writing has the power to change our lives.

a digital collage highlighting my love of journals and writing :)

Source: Christin's Portfolio

Writing Sparks and Prompts

1) If I were a superhero my special power would be
2) If I were an animal I would choose to be a ., because..
3) Describe a random inanimate object near to you right now without saying what it is.Paint a word
picture that makes people understand what you are writing about.
4) Pick an inanimate object and tell a story through its eyes as though it were a living being.
5) What 3 words best describe you and why

6) If you could interview one person, alive or dead, who would it be and what 3 questions would you
ask them? What do you think their answers would be?
7) What have you always wanted to try that you have never done?
8) Name the top five best vacation spots according to your experience and sell people on the idea.
9) Who do you think you are?
10) How to win at ___________. (pick a game you are good at)
11) The best free activities to enjoy in your area
12) You are a talk show host how do you run your show and what is it about?
13) The best way to deal with a difficult relative
14) Is honesty always the best policy? Why or why not?
15) A day in the life of your cat/dog through his/her eyes.
16) What is the best season of the year and why?
17) How do you save money on groceries?
18) What is your favorite color and how does it make you feel?
19) Coffee or Tea?
20) How do you handle a cold?
21) Describe yourself as your favorite mythical creature (unicorn, fairy, dragon etc.)
22) Today is your last day on Earth what do you do with it?
23) What is your extended definition of maturity?
24) Create an extended definition for the first word that pops into your head.
25) What do you hate about writing?
26) This morning I sat up quickly and looked out the window and there it was, a .
27) Suddenly it moved, startling her and she..
28) What does it mean to be a Man/Woman? (Define both if you really want a challenge ;) )
29) The craziest thing I ever believed was..
30) Top 10 ways to spend a lazy day
31) Top 10 favorite (movies/songs/whatever) and why

32) The best thing that ever happened to me was.

33) The most wonderful thing about today so far is ..
34) Persuade Is texting a good thing? Why or why not
35) Persuade any subject you are passionate about that is not religion or politics think outside
the box
36) Persuade why do you deserve a raise?
37) The best way to prepare oatmeal
38) Tips for making awesome cookies or whatever dessert comes to mind
39) Is all soda bad for you why or why not? (use sources to back your claim)
40) What is the best way to eat healthy?
41) Combine the follow 3 things into a work of writing: a coffee cup, fear of snakes, and a sunny day
42) Your character suspects his/her spouse is lying to them or worse, cheating. When they
investigate they discover a big surprise and its
43) You walk out of your front door and discover there are no people around everything is quiet
and eerily not right what happened?
44) Your character thinks the boss is about to fire him so he .
45) Pick one of your greatest strengths and develop a character of the opposite gender who also has
that strength
46) Develop the scene of a great ghost story
47) Picture an ideal land/place in your mind and then describe it in vivid detail.
48) Hey, whats that up there in the sky?
49) Holy cow! I cant believe they did that! (What did they do?)
50) Pick your favorite meal and describe in detail how you prepare it

Scrivener [Download]
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Do you struggle with keeping your thoughts, ideas, notes and plans organized? If so, you
should consider investing in Scrivener. This software has a virtual cork board with note cards that
allows you to visually move things around. It also has an outliner feature where you can organize
ideas using as many levels as you want with drag and drop capability. It also has a targeting and
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goals for word count so if you are NaNoWriMo participant it comes in very handy. This is an amazing
organization tool and worth every cent for all the features you get.
Getting organized can help you overcome the writer's block and procrastination that comes from
being overwhelmed by too much "clutter" in your workspace, writing, and brain :).

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51) Would a monkey make a good pet?

52) What would life be like if you were only one foot tall?
53) What would life be like if you were 10 feet tall?
54) What foreign country would you most like to visit and why?
55) If there was a planet of alien life forms what do you suppose they would be like?
56) How do you take a great picture?
57) If you could do anything you wanted to right now, with no limitations, what would it be?
58) Youre driving down the road when suddenly.
59) It was a lovely day to go for a walk so she took a different route and what she discovered was
60) Describe what its like to sit by the ocean
61) What are the benefits of spending time alone? Do you do it often enough or too much?
62) Which of your relatives do you like the least and why?
63) What is your greatest accomplishment?
64) What do you want to be remembered for?
65) Write your own eulogy (tough one!)
66) What historic figure do you admire the most?
67) Which historic person do you feel you are most like and why?
68) The biggest lie I ever told was.
69) How do you write a great short story?
70) What steps do you take as a writer to really polish your writing

71) What are your best writing tips

72) Pick a hobby and describe how to do it in 10 simple steps
73) Who is the most interesting person you have met?
74) The most unusual thing happened to me today .
75) She opened up the door and
76) When I was a child my favorite thing to do was
77) How do you grow a _______ plant? (Pick one whatever you like to grow an herb, veggie,
flower etc.)
78) How to be a great (whatever your career or hobby is here)
79) 5 simple ways to make more money
80) 5 simple ways to add more joy to your life
81) Why credit is good/bad
82) Develop a plan to build something and share it
83) Complicate something simple ;) the opposite of what we normally do.Take something simple and
really break it down in very basic parts. getting out of bed, starting the day, eating breakfast or
anything else you can think of
84) Describe a unique ritual or habit you have and how it came to be
85) Do you love yourself the same way you love others? Why or why not?
86) Choose a random photograph from your collection.Look at it for a few minutes and then write
about how it made you feel and the thoughts that came up
87) Silence is golden why?
88) What were you like 10 years ago? What will you be like 10 years from now?
89) What do you want to do right now?
90) What are you afraid of? Create a character with the same fear or phobia and describe them in
detail.
91) Create a single character based on a composite of your mother and father.
92) Describe the perfect place for a pair of soul mates to meet.
93) Describe the scent of freshly brewed coffee or bread baking

94) Describe various colors to a person who has always been blind to help them conceptualize
them.
95) You find yourself alone in a spooky old house so you .
96) You look in the mirror and your face is missing instead you see .
97) Your top ten cooking tips
98) How do you ride a bike?
99) What is the best national park in your area and why?
100) Describe your favorite local restaurant and convince someone why they should go there.
101) What is the best piece you have ever written and what makes it so?

Osmanl mparatorluu
Devlet-i Aliye-i Osmaniye

Ottoman Empire
Previous (Ottoman-Habsburg wars)

Next (Ottoman Greece)

The Ottoman Empire represents one of the largest

imperial projects in human history, ruling vast
territories in North Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle
East over a period of some five centuries. During its
history, it did much to sustain Islamic civilization.
Outsiders and insiders have had different perceptions

Map of the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power

of the Ottoman Empire. Outsiders often viewed it as a

threat; for insiders, including for much of the time

Imperial motto

Devlet-i Ebed-mddet'
(Ottoman Turkish for
"the Eternal State")

Official language

Ottoman Turkish

Capital

Constantinople (stanbul
)

Imperial anthem

Ottoman imperial
anthem

non-Muslims, it represented stability and security.

Towards the end of its existence outsiders saw it as
decadent and corrupt. Even though it had embarked
on a process of democratization that process had
been sabotaged by the Young Turks (see below).
Entangled by debt, the empire tried to minimize its
involvement in the web of European politics by
aligning itself with Germany, with whom trade had
increased. Germany had not played the British game

Monarch/Sovereign Padishah of the Osmanli

s
Dynasty

of on-off, hot and cold diplomacy by supporting the

Ottomans in one war but not in another. Towards the

Population

c. 40 million

Area

6.3m km (1902);
maximum extent larger
(1595)

Rise of the
Ottoman
Empire/Establishm
ent

1299

end, treatment of non-Turkish subjects had

deteriorated and the series of incidents known as
the Armenian Genocide, though disputed by Turks,
remains for many a blot on the Ottoman record. In the
end, it was the desire to retain the empire and to
deny non-Turks and non-Muslims a say in its affairs
that brought about the empire's collapse. Turkish and
German ambitions coalesced but both states were
defeated in World War I. Those who believe that
history teaches lessons or that a non-human,

Fall of the Ottoman

October 29, 1923
Empire/Dissolution
Currency

Flag

Akce, Kurus, Lira

supreme reality acts within history will view the decline and fall of the Ottoman Empire in terms of wrong
choices, pride, and lack of respect for the dignity of all people. On the other hand, historically the Ottomans had
treated minorities well and many people in the empire knew security, so aspects of the historical legacy of the
empire should not be undervalued.

Contents
[hide]

1 Overview
2 History
o

2.1 Origins

2.2 Expansion

2.3 Naval Power

2.4 The Pax Ottomanica

2.5 Decline and Reform

2.6 The Tanzimat Reforms

2.7 Reversal of Reform

2.8 The End of the Ottoman Empire

3 State organization
4 Culture

4.1 Jews in the Ottoman Empire

4.2 Christians in the Ottoman Empire

4.3 The Millet Systems' Contemporary Legacy

5 Military
6 Provinces
7 Sultans
8 References
9 External links
10 Credits

Overview
The Ottoman Empire (Ottoman Turkish language: Devlet-i Aliye-i Osmaniye; Turkish language (Modern
Turkish): Osmanl mparatorluu) was an imperial power centered on the borders of the Mediterranean
Sea that existed from 1281 (or 1299) to 1923. At the height of power, it included Anatolia, the Middle East, parts
of North Africa, and much of southeastern Europe. The empire was established by a tribe of Oghuz Turks in
western Anatolia and ruled by the Osmanli dynasty, the descendants of those Turks.
In diplomatic circles, the empire was often referred to as the Sublime Porte or the Porte, from the French
language translation of the Ottoman Turkish language Bb-i-l ("great gate"), the grand Palace Gate of the
Imperial Topkap Palace where the sultan greeted foreign ambassadors. It has also been interpreted as
referring to the empire's (and especially the capital Istanbul's) position as gateway between Europe and Asia. In
its day, the Ottoman Empire was commonly referred to as the Turkish Empireor Turkey by Westerners, though
it should not be confused with the modern nation-state of Turkey.
The empire was founded by Osman I (in Arabic Uthmn, , hence the name Ottoman Empire). In the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Ottoman Empire was among the world's most powerful political
entities and the countries of Europe felt threatened by the steady Ottoman advance through the Balkans.
At its height, the Ottoman Empire comprised an area of about 5.5 million km, though much of this was under
indirect control of the central government. In 1453, after the Ottomans
captured Constantinople (modern Istanbul) (see Fall of Constantinople) the last remnant of the Byzantine
Empire, it became the Ottoman capital. From 1517 onwards, the Ottoman Sultan was also for Sunni Muslims
the Caliph of Islam, and was synonymous with the Islamic Caliphate until 1922, (when the Sultanate was

abolished), or 1924, (when the Caliphate was abolished), although it never enjoyed universal recognition. This
was due to the non-Arab origin of the Ottomans, based on a saying (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad that as
long as a Quraishi remained, the Caliph would be a member of the Quraishi clan (his own Arab clan) (Bukhari,
Book 89, Hadith 253-254). Selim I, who conquered the Egyptian Mamluks, is said to have been ceded the title
Caliph by Mutawakkil III, the last of the Abbasids though the title had been used earlier by Mehmed II. The
Ottomans thus became the third dynastic Caliphate, in succession to the Abbasids and theUmayyads.
However, the Ottomans may not have used the title Caliph until 1774, when the Tsar of Russia acquired some
responsibility for Orthodox Christians living in Ottoman territory in return for the Sultan gaining similar status
with Russia's Muslims. Certainly, it was in 1517 that Selim took back to Istanbul sacred relics associated with
Muhammad, including his mantle, a traditional symbol of Caliphal authority.
Following World War I, during which most of the empire's territories were captured by the Allies, the Ottoman
state was in complete disarray. Turkish nationalists, many of whom were former Ottoman officials and highranking military distinction, established modern Turkey as an outcome of the Turkish War of Independence. The
war was a continuation of the struggle between Greeks and Turks, fought mainly on what was to become
Turkish soil by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.

History
Origins
The Ottoman State originated as a Beylik within the Seljuk Empire in the thirteenth century. In 1299, Osman I
declared independence of the Ottoman Principality. Murad I was the first Ottoman to claim the title of sultan
(king/deputy). With the capture of Constantinople in 1453, the state was on its way to becoming a mighty
empire with Mehmed II as its emperor or padishah. The empire reached its apex under Suleiman I in the
sixteenth century, when it stretched from the Persian Gulf in the east, to Hungary in the northwest, and
from Egypt in the south, to the Caucasus in the north. The empire was situated in the middle of east and west
and interacted throughout its six-century history with both Eastern culture and Western culture. It was in 1353
that, by capturing Gallipoli, the Ottomans gained their first foothold in Europe, blockading the Strait of the
Dardanelles.

Suleiman Mosque, Istanbul. Built between 1550 and 1557 and considered an architectural masterpiece

Expansion
Throughout the sixteenth century, the Ottoman Empire continued to grow in size and extent, expanding into
North Africa and battling with the Safavid Empire to the east. At the Battle of Chaldiran in eastern Anatolia in
1514, Ottoman forces under Sultan Selim I won a decisive victory against the Safavids, ensuring Ottoman
security on the eastern front. Thereafter, attention reverted to the west, and Suleiman I, upon ascending the
throne in 1518, led a series of campaigns into the Balkans. Under Suleiman's often brilliant strategies, the
Ottomans advanced steadily northward, taking Belgrade in 1521, defeating Hungary in 1526 at the Battle of
Mohcs, and besieging Vienna in 1529. There is little doubt that rivalry with Europe was a dominant motive in
Ottoman expansion but a religious element was also present. That element was the desire to extend Islamic
rule throughout the world. Indeed, it was not altogether inappropriate that the word 'Turk' and 'Muslim' then
became synonymous in Europe. The Ottomans saw themselves first and foremost as Muslims, not as
members of a particular ethnic group. The Shaikh-al-Islam (chief jurist) was the third-highest state official. The
Sultans believed that they had been raised to the Caliphate by God, arguing that they were best qualified to
lead the Muslim world. As the best of ghazis [holy warriors] and of fighters in the Holy War [against un-belief
and to extend Islamic rule] or afdal al-ghuzat wa'l-mujahidin, they were the rightful successors to the Prophet
and the Patriarchal Caliphs (Inalcik, 1970: 320 citing Turkish sources). The Ottomans believed that
the ghaza (war against infidels) had to be fought against the infidel's dominions, dar-al-harb (the abode of
war), ceaselessly and relentlessly until they submitted (Inalcik: 283). The ghaza had been described as the
foundation stone of the Ottoman state. According to Inalcik, the ghaza dominated Ottoman history. It
constituted the fundamental principle of Ottoman policies and administration.
Ottoman expansion through the 1500s and later, was aided by their considerable knowledge of firearms and
tactics, and by an overall fairly-advanced military and administrative system. Ottoman forces also had much
expertise at laying sieges, which was used to great extent. An example of this was the siege
of Constantinople in 1453, where a massive cannon had been used to breach the triple walls, firing shells
exceeding one ton in weight. An Austriangeneral was known to have said that the Ottomans were "almost
invincible" during the summer, supported by their many successful campaigns.

Naval Power
In addition to gaining considerable territory, the empire extended its influence at sea. Selim I conquered
the Safavid Empire, only to lose it soon after; the Safavids later defeated and conquered the Ottomans and

capturedBaghdad. It established a navy in the Red Sea that succeeded, at least for a time, in
countering Portuguese influence on the spice trade. During this period, the empire vied with the emerging
European colonial powers in the Indian Ocean. Fleets with soldiers and arms were sent to
support Muslim rulers in Kenya and Aceh and to defend the Ottoman spice and slave trade. In Aceh, the
Ottomans built a fortress and supplied huge cannons. The DutchProtestants were helped by
the Ottomans against Catholic Spain. The Ottoman navy also had much influence in the Mediterranean Sea,
and trade flourished because of the stability afforded to shipping lanes.

The Pax Ottomanica

The period of Suleiman the Magnificent is known as the "Pax Ottomanica." Suleiman the Magnificent is
regarded by many Muslims as the near-perfect ruler. Named after King Solomon, whose rule the Qur'an extols,
he is reputed to have ruled justly and humanely. He was also a renowned poet and patron of the arts. His
architect, Sinan, built some of the most significant mosques, famously the Suleymaniye Mosque as well as
public buildings in Islamic history. Suleiman also rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, which survive to this day. He
codified Ottoman law, which, based on the Hanafi view where Shariah has no explicit ruling, the Sultan can
use qiyas or analogy to extend the law, and virtually replaced Islamic law with kanum. These rules covered
taxation and regulation of the military. Both Mongol and Turk tradition understood the rulers' law as sacred.
However, the law was far from arbitraryit was impersonal and was generally administered impartially
regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, or social status (see Gerber, 1994). Jews and Christians often
preferred to take their cases to the qadis (Muslim judges), even though they did not have to, because of
the qadis reputation for fairness. Technically, the Caliph is subject to Shariah and during Ottoman history
several were removed for allegedly violating ShariahIbrahim I (1648) who was probably mad, Mehmed IV
(1687), Selim III (1807), and Ahmed III (1731).

Decline and Reform

In the seventeenth century, the Ottomans were weakened both internally and externally by costly wars,
especially against Persia, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, and Austria-Hungary. There was a
long succession of sultans who did not possess the skills or dedication of their predecessors. Several sultans
had been imprisoned by their predecessors, so had little training in governance and left this to their
viziers. Suleiman's son, Selim II, was known as the Drunkard, neglecting governance. One sultan, Mehmed
III, left governance to his mother. Mahmud I spent most of his time writing poetry. Consequently, a large and
corrupt bureaucracy exercised power. On the other hand, strict measures were put in place to punish corrupt
officials, especially those found guilty of overtaxing the people or of mistreating the peasants. The scientific
advantage the Ottomans had over the other European countries also diminished. While the Ottomans were

stagnating in a stalemate with their European and Asian neighbor countries, the European development went
into overdrive. Eventually, after a defeat at the Battle of Vienna in 1683, it was clear the Ottoman Empire was
no longer a superpower in Europe. In 1699, for the first time in its history the Ottomans acknowledged that
the Austrian empire could sign a treaty with the Ottomans on equal terms, and actually lost a large territory
which had been in Ottoman possession for two centuries. Yet for many in Europe the term Turk, which was
regarded as synonymous with Muslim, struck terror in their hearts. The Ottomans seemed a threat to
European security. It is from this historical encounter that European Islamophobia partly stems, the idea that
Islam is incompatible with the European ethos, and therefore a danger to the European way of life.

The Tanzimat Reforms

Aware that reform was needed, what were known as the Tanzimat reforms took place between 1839 and 1876.
They were designed to make the civil service more accountable and efficient. These reforms included the
establishing of consultative bodies and the codification of law such as the Ottoman Commercial Code (1850)
and the Ottoman Penal Code (1858). In the Chamber of Deputies that was formed, both national and religious
minorities were well represented. The sultans tried to impose these reforms to revitalize the empire but many
were resisted by conservative forces within the empire, either by the religious cadre or by the now corrupt
Janissaries. Even after the Janissaries were disbanded in 1826, reforms came slowly. Eventually, a fairly
modern conscripted army was formed. The banking system was also reformed and the guilds were replaced
with modern factories. However, adoption of new technologies and industrial techniques may have been slow
due to pride that nothing much could be learned from non-believers. A comparison here has been made with
China. Externally, the empire stopped entering further conflicts alone, and started entering alliances with other
European countries. To aid her flagging economy, too, loans were borrowed from European states and banks.
There was a series of alliances with France, Netherlands,Britain, and Russia. A prime example of this was
the Crimean War in 1852 in which the English, French, Ottomans, and others united against Russia. However,
the European powers changed their policies when it suited them to do so, Britain stood by in 1877 when Russia
defeated Turkey at San Stefano whereas just a few years earlier she had aided Turkey against Russia. The
Young Turks of the Union (Ittihad) and Progress (Terakki) Party wanted to extricate the empire from foreign
entanglements and saw an alliance with Germany as a way of minimizing this. Trade and commerce with
Germany was increasing and the Young Turks did not think that Britain could be trusted. Originally the Party
had attracted the support of non-Muslims and non-Turks, since it had appeared to stand for equality and
democracy. The party's rise to power had even been welcomed in Europe. However, Turkism took over and
the party's aim was to restore Turkish prestige and pride. This matched the German project; Germany felt left
out of the European scramble for empire (controlling only Nubia, Tanganyika, German New Guinea and a few
Pacific islands) and some thought that without more overseas possessions Germany would not be able to

compete economically with Britain and France, which had large empires. In this view, Britain and France were
only able to maintain healthy domestic economies by exploiting their overseas colonies.

Reversal of Reform
By the end of the nineteenth century the empire was weakened to a great extent. Economically, it had trouble
paying back loans to the European banks. Militarily, it had trouble defending itself from foreign occupation. For
example,Egypt was occupied by the French in 1798, and Cyprus by the British in 1876 to name two instances.
Socially, the advent of nationalism and the yearning for democracy were making the Ottoman population
restless. Non-Turks were either revolting against the empire or agitating for independence. The Greeks revolted
in 1821, the Bulgarians in 1876, Moldavia and Walachia gained autonomy in 1861, and nationalism was
growing in the Arab provinces (where a pan-Arab movement was also developing) and in Armenia. The Young
Turks (in power from 1908 to 1918) were nationalists too, but their policies led to harsh treatment of non-Turks,
especially of non-Muslims. They believed that the empire was too dependent on non-Muslims and that Turks
were losing control of their own empire. Many of the earlier reforms were reversed. The Young Turks were
involved in a series of military coups and counter coups that resulted in a constitutional monarchy under which
the sultan now had little to no power. The Young Turk's nationalistic policies led to the secession of the Balkans
and the Balkan War of 1910-1912. Between 1915 and 1917, Armenian unrest resulted in a ferocious policy of
deportation and imprisonment during which thousands of Armenians died. This was also in retaliation against
Armenians for aiding Russia against the empire. The series of events is referred to by non-Turkish historians as
the Armenian genocide or holocaust, and remains the cause of controversy. The Young Turks' rule was
increasingly oppressive.
European powers were jealous of the Ottoman Empire on the one hand, and on the other saw it as feudal and
backward compared with themselves. While European nations had developed parliamentary systems of
government, they ruled their empires overseas with little or no reference to the will of the people. Nonetheless,
they felt a moral superiority over the Ottomans, expressed by Czar Nicholas I of Russia who called Turkey the
sick man of Europe. They wanted to divide the empire up among themselves, much as they divided Africa but
with no single power gaining too much territory, to the others' disadvantage. The bureaucracy of the Ottomans
had become inefficient but the empire had some strengthsloyalty to the service of the empire was wellrewarded (several former slaves rose to become vizier), race and ethnicity was generally no barrier to
progress, and law was uniformly administered. The Ottomans saw themselves as Muslims and understood
Islam as a transnational reality. They reversed the earlier tendency within the Muslim world that saw non-Arab
Muslims as less authentically Muslim. From the Tanzimat reforms on, Turkey increasingly looked to Europe for
its models and ideas and what has been called an Occidental Orientalism developedOrientalism refers to the
Western depiction of the Orient as backward, decadent, and static in contrast to the West, which is depicted as

oriented towards the future, moral, and dynamic. The Ottomans started to share this analysis and saw little of
merit in their own civilization. Eventually, however, it was the Young Turks' desire to retain the empire and to do
so in a way that privileged Turks that resulted in its destruction.

The End of the Ottoman Empire

In a final effort to keep power in their hands by regaining at least some of the lost territories, the triumvirate led
by Enver Pasha joined the Central Powers in World War I. The Ottoman Empire had some successes in the
beginning years of the war. The Allies, including the newly-formed Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
(ANZAC), were defeated in Gallipoli, Iraq, and the Balkans, and some territories were regained.
However, the Ottomans were eventually defeated by the Allies in the Balkans, Thrace, Syria, Palestine, and
Iraq, and its territories were annexed by the victors. Palestine went to Britain (who established the Hashemite
Kingdom ofJordan to the east of the Jordan River) as did Iraq (where they also established a monarchy); Syria
and Lebanon went to France; and Libya went to Italy. Some Arabs, led by the Hashemite family, had supported
the British in a bid for their own independence from the Ottomans, and their reward was the thrones of Jordan
and Iraq. In the Caucasus there was a stalemate between the Ottomans and the Russians. The Russians used
their advanced guns and cannons and, as most Turkish historians claim, outmaneuvered the Ottomans using
their Armenian allies within the empire. Militarily, the Ottomans made use of the mountainous terrain and the
cold climate, launching a series of surprise attacks. The Russian forces retreated after the Communist
revolution in Russia, resulting in Ottoman victory on this front.
Mustafa Kemal Pasha Ataturk, who had made his reputation earlier during the Gallipoli and Palestine
campaigns, was officially sent from occupied Istanbul to take control of the victorious Caucasus army, and to
disband it. This army was instrumental in winning the Turkish War of Independence (19181923), and
the Republic of Turkey was founded on October 29, 1923, from the remnants of the fallen empire. The last
sultan was taken into exile on a British warship, the Malaya.

State organization
Ottoman state organization was based on a hierarchy with the sultan, who was usually the Caliph at the top,
and below him his viziers, other court officials, and military commanders. The primary responsibility of the
sultan was to ensure that justice was served. A body called the Diwan advised the sultan. Public opinion was
regarded as important and the Ottomans made some use of polls to ascertain the popular will. All laws and
taxes were posted in public so that the people knew their content. Provinces were originally governed by
designated local military leaders, who often acquired large landholdings and passed the position on to their
offspring. Later, administrators called Pashaswere appointed. Provinces were subdivided into smaller units and

supervised by beys. The leaders of the millets (legally protected religious minorities) collected taxes and
oversaw their communitys legal systems. At times, the millet leaders and the sultan's representatives worked
closely together, but sometimes clashed.

Culture
During the medieval age, the Ottoman Turks had a high tolerance of alien cultures and religions, especially
compared to the Christian West. Early on, the Turks drove the Byzantines from Anatolia and later pursued them
into Europe. But as the Ottomans moved further west, the Turkish leaders themselves absorbed some of the
culture of the conquered people. The alien culture was gradually added to the Turks' own, creating the
characteristic Ottoman culture. After the capture of Constantinople (later dubbed Istanbul) in 1453, most
churches were left intact; however, the Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque. The Ottoman court life in many
aspects resembled ancient traditions of the Persian Shahs, but had many Byzantine and European influences.
It was under the regime of the Young Turks (1908-1918) when the sultan had been sidelined that treatment of
non-Muslims (and of non-Turks) deteriorated, resulting in atrocities.
Although Western writers have typically depicted the Ottoman Empire as decadent and corrupt, life for many
people in the vast empire was secure and peaceful. Over-taxation was not common and, as noted earlier, law
was uniformly and fairly administered. People could move freely throughout the empire. Ethnicity and race were
not barriers to progress. The compulsory recruitment of non-Christian boys into the military, though, was
problematic for the families concerned. On the other hand, many such children rose to prominence.
The Sufi form of Islam, renowned for its tolerance, flourished in Ottoman Turkey, where Rumi (1207-1273)
founded his order of whirling dervishes and taught the unity of all beings, goodness, charity, and love.

Jews in the Ottoman Empire

For centuries, the Ottoman Empire was the refuge of the Jews of Europe, who did not have the freedom of
religion in Europe that the citizens of the Ottoman Empire did. Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 found refuge
in the Balkans and elsewhere in Ottoman territory, where the sultan decreed they should be welcomed.
Famously, Sultan Abdulmecid rejected the Christian blood libel against the Jews. Jews and Christians held
significant posts such as ambassadors and court physicians. Christians and Jews could become viziers as
several did at various times.
Lewis (1984) cites a fifteenth-century Jew writing to Jews in Europe and urging them to migrate to Turkey: Is it
not better for you to live under Muslims than Christians? Here every man may dwell at peace under his own
vine and fig tree. Here you are allowed to wear the most precious garments. In Christendom, on the contrary,

you dare not even venture to clothe your children red or bluewithout exposing them to the insult of being
beaten black and blue[in Germany Jews] are pursued even unto death (135-6). Lewis comments that Jewish
reports on Turkish behavior and attitudes are almost uniformly favorable. On the other hand, Ivan Vozov's
classic novel, Under the Yoke(1888), about the struggle for Bulgarian independence depicts centuries of rape
and pillage against the defenseless Bulgarians (453).

Christians in the Ottoman Empire

In the late seventeenth century, some Greek Christians who had served in diplomatic posts were rewarded with
the designation hospodar (prince) and governed the provinces of Moldavia and Walachia on behalf of the
sultan.
Millet is an Ottoman Turkish term for a legally protected religious minority. It comes from the Arabic
word milla for confessional community. The Arabic term is a very general one; the Jewish neighborhoods
in Morocco and Tunisiawere named mellah.
The millet was an alternative to autonomous territories that had long been the European norm for dealing with
minority groups. The millet system has a long history in the Middle East, and is closely linked to Islamic rules
on the treatment of non-Muslim minorities. The Ottoman term specifically refers to the separate legal courts
pertaining to personal law under which minorities were allowed to rule themselves with fairly little interference
from the Ottoman government.
The main millets were the Jewish, Greek, and Armenian ones (which included gypsies, Georgian Orthodox,
and several other communities). By the nineteenth century there were 14 millets. A wide array of other groups
such asCatholics (Catholics and Protestants were under a wakil or representative who was not officially head of
a millet), Karaites, and Samaritans were also represented, but not the non-Sunni Muslim communities (Shi'as,
Druzes, Alawis, Alevis, Yezidis, etc.) which had no official existence in this Sunni Muslim Caliphate even if the
Druzes of the Djebel Druze and Mount Lebanon enjoyed a rather feudal-type autonomy, like the (Christian)
Assyrian villages under Mar Shimun in the Hakkiari mountains. These groups were spread across the empire
with significant minorities in most of the major cities. Autonomy for these groups was thus impossible to base
on a territorial region. Millets were therefore dealt with as dispersed communities. Often, there was relatively
little contact between different millets. However, according to Courbage and Farques (1998), Christianity
and Judaism were revived and flourished under the Ottomans. Technically, the jizya tax (the tax paid by nonChristians in return for the protection of the state and the right to practice their religion) remained in force but
the main tax was on capital and all taxes were collected by non-Muslim intermediaries (xi).

Each millet was under the supervision of a leader, most often a religious patriarch, who reported directly to the
Ottoman Sultan. The millets had a great deal of powerthey set their own laws and collected and distributed
their own taxes. All that was insisted was loyalty to the Empire. When a member of one millet committed a
crime against a member of another the law of the damaged person applied. The Muslim majority was seen as
paramount and any dispute involving a Muslim fell under their law. Under the Tanzimat reforms, the jizya was
abolished but it was actually replaced by a very similar military exemption tax.

The Millet Systems' Contemporary Legacy

The millet system was altered by the increasing influence of European powers in the Middle East. The various
European powers declared themselves protectors of their religious cohorts in the empire. Thus the Russians
became guardians of the Eastern Orthodox groups, the French of the Catholics, and the British of the Jews and
other groups. New millets were created in the nineteenth century for several Uniate and Protestant Christian
communities, then for the separate national Eastern Orthodox Bulgarian Church, recognized as a millet by an
Ottoman firman (decree) in 1870 and excommunicated two years later by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In
1856, as part of the Tanzimat reforms, all Ottoman subjects became equal under the law.

Military
The Ottoman military was a complex system of recruiting and fief-holding. In the Ottoman army, light cavalry
long formed the core and they were given fiefs called timars. Cavalry used bows and short swords and made
use of nomad tactics similar to those of the Mongol Empire. The Ottoman army was once among the most
advanced fighting forces in the world, being one of the first to employ muskets. The famous Janissary corps
provided elite troops and bodyguards for the sultan. Established in about 1300, the Janissary consisted
originally of slaves but later of non-Muslims boys conscripted between the ages of 5 and 14. Highly trained and
disciplined, their conversion to Islam was encouraged. The soldiers led almost Spartan lives and until 1566
were celibate. However, they were well paid and after retirement many became scholars and senior
administrators. Albanians, Serbs, and Bulgarian boys were especially favored. Realizing their own power, the
Janissaries became increasingly wealthy and demanding and at times were able to control the sultan,
exercising power through him. After the seventeenth century, however, the Ottomans could no longer produce a
modern fighting force because of a lack of reforms, mainly because of the corrupted Janissaries. The abolition
of the Janissary corps in 1826 was not enough, and in the war against Russia, the Ottoman Empire severely
lacked modern weapons and technologies.
The modernization of the Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth century started with the military. This was the first
institution to hire foreign experts and which sent their officer core for training to western European countries.

Technology and new weapons were transferred to the empire, such as German and British guns. The empire
was successful in modernizing its army. However, it was still no match against the major western powers.

Provinces
At the height of its power, the Ottoman Empire had 29 provinces plus three tributary principalities
and Transylvania, a kingdom which swore allegiance to the empire.

Sultans
The sultan, also known as the Padishah, in Europe sometimes the Grand Turk, was the sole regent and
governor of the empire, at least officially. The dynasty is most often called the Osmanli or the House of Osman.
The sultan enjoyed many titles such as Sovereign of the House of Osman, Sultan of Sultans, Khan of Khans,
and from 1517 onwards, Commander of the Faithful and Successor of the Prophet of the Lord of the Universe,
i.e. Caliph, which theoretically also gave him lordship over other Muslim rulers around the world. For example,
among the Mughal Emperors, only Aurangzeb had the Khutba (Friday sermon) read in his own name. Note
that the first rulers never called themselves sultan, but rather bey thereby acknowledging the sovereignty of
the Seljuk sultanate and its successor, the Ilkhanid sultanate. The sultan title was established by Murad I in
1383. From 1908 (the Young Turks' revolt) until 1922, the Sultan was a constitutional monarch.

Osman I (12811326; bey)

Ibrahim I (16401648)

Orhan I (13261359; bey)

Mehmed IV (16481687)

Murad I (13591389; sultan from 1383

Suleiman II (16871691)

Ahmed II (16911695)

Mustafa II (16951703)

Ahmed III (17031730)

Mahmud I (17301754)

Osman III (17541757)

1389)

Beyazid I (13891402)
Ottoman Interregnum (14021413)
Mehmed I (14131421)
Murad II (14211444) (14451451)
Mehmed II (the Conqueror) (14441445,

14511481)

Mustafa III (17571774)

Beyazid II (14811512)

Abd-ul-Hamid I (17741789)

Selim I (15121520; Caliph from 1517

Selim III (17891807)

Mustafa IV (18071808)

Mahmud II (18081839)

Abd-ul-Mejid I (18391861)

Abd-ul-Aziz (18611876)

Murad V (1876)

Abd-ul-Hamid II (18761909)

Mehmed V (Read) (1909

1520)

Suleiman I (the Magnificent) (15201566)

Selim II (15661574)
Murad III (15741595)
Mehmed III (15951603)
Ahmed I (16031617)
Mustafa I (16171618)

Osman II (16181622)

Mustafa I (16221623)

1918)

Mehmed VI (Vahideddin)
(19181922)

Murad IV (16231640)

Note: Although Abdul Mejid II was chosen as Caliph in 1922, he was not a sultan as the National Assembly had
abolished the sultanate. The Caliphate was abolished in turn in 1924. He was in theory the 101st Caliph in
succession from Abu Bakr and the 37th Ottoman Caliph.

Mirza Ghalib Poetry

Mirza Ghalib Poetry

Mirza Galib Poetry is loved by urdu poetry lovers around the world. Mirza Ghalib is one of the most
popular poets from pakistan. Galibs primary topic was romance, love and sadness. We have got lots of Galib

Shayari collection for our users.

Ghalib was born in 1797. He was undoubtedly the most popular urdu poet the world has ever seen. His
shayari on love and his shayari on life are known to be the best poetries one can ever find on internet.

Qataa kijiye na taluq hum se..

Qataa kijiye na taluq hum se,
Kuch nahi hai to adaavat hi sahi..

Rahi na taaqat-e-guftaar aur agar ho bhi..

Rahi na taaqat-e-guftaar aur agar ho bhi,
To kis umeed pe kahiye ke arzuu kya hai..

Baad marne ke mere ghar se yeh samaan niklaa.

Chand tasaveer-e-butaan, chand haseenon ke khatoot*.
Baad marne ke mere ghar se yeh samaan niklaa..
(khatoor;letters)

Meri kismat mein gham gar itna tha..

Meri kismat mein gham gar itna tha,
Dil bhi yaa rab kayi diye hotay..

Na tha kuch to khuda tha, kuch na hota to khuda hota..

Na tha kuch to khuda tha, kuch na hota to khuda hota,

Diboyaa mujhe ko hone ne, na hota mein to kya hota..

Ronay se aur ishq mein be-baak ho gaye..

Ronay se aur ishq mein be-baak ho gaye,
Dhoye gaye hum itney ke bass paak ho gaye..

Rahiye ab aesi jagha chal kar jahan koi na ho..

Rahiye ab aesi jagha chal kar jahan koi na ho,
Hum-sukhan koi na ho, aur hum-zubaan koi na ho,
Parriye gar beemar to koi na ho teemardaaar*,
Aur agar mar jaayiye to noha-khuwaan* koi na ho..
(teemardaaar;caretaker, noha-khuwaan;noha reciter)

Ye na thi hamari kismat ke visaal-e-yaar hota..

Ye na thi hamari kismat ke visaal-e-yaar hota,
Agar aur jeetey rehtey, yehi intezaar hota..

Ishq per zor nahin, yeh woh aatish..

Ishq per zor nahin, yeh woh aatish Ghalib,
Ke lagaaye na lage aur bujhaaye na bujhayy..

Be-Khudi Be-Sabab Nahin Ghalib..

Be-Khudi Be-Sabab Nahin Ghalib,
Kuchh To Hai Jis Ki Parda-Daari Hai

Khulta kisi pay kya mery dil ka muamla..

Khulta kisi pay kya mery dil ka muamla,
Shairon k intekhab nay ruswa kia mujhy..!!

Toote hain sheesha dil haaye dil itne

Toote hain sheesha dil haaye dil itne ke ehl-e-dard,
Rakhte hain paaon khaak par sau baar dekh kar..

Zahid sharab peene de masjid mein beth kar..

Zahid sharab peene de masjid mein beth kar,
Yaa woh jagha bata jahan Khuda nahin..
(Mirza Ghalib)
Masjid khuda ka ghar hai, peeney ki jagha nahin,
Kaafir ke dil mein ja, Wahan khudaa nahin..
(Allama Iqbal)
Kaafir ke dil se aya hon mein yeh dekh kar,
Khuda maujood hai wahan, Par usey pata nahin..
(Ahmad Faraz)

Aaina kyu na doon ke tamasha kahe jise

Aaina kyu na doon ke tamasha kahe jise

Aisa kaha se laau ke tujhasa kahe jise
Hasrat ne la rakha teri bazm-e-khayal me
Guldasta-e-nigaah suveda kahe jise
Phoonka hai kisne goshe mohabbat mein aye khuda
Afasuun-e-intazar tamanna kahe jise
Sar par hajum-e-dard-e-garibi se daliye
Wo ek musht-e-khak ke sahara kahe jise
Hai chashm-e-tar me hasarat-e-diidar se niha
Shauq-e-ina gusekhta dariya kahe jise
Darakar hai shiguftan-e-gul haye aish ko
Sub_h-e-bahar paba-e-miina kahe jise
ghalib bura na man jo vaiz bura kahe
Aisa bhii koii hai ke sab achchha kahe jise

Usey khuda bana daala