This book compiles Halil İnalcık’s pioneering works on early Ottoman history, drawing extensively from original Ottoman archival materials to explore the intricate dynamics between the sultan, society, and the economy. It begins by addressing key historiographical issues, examining prevailing views on the periodization of Ottoman history, and providing a detailed look at the life and work of the early chronicler ‘Āshiḳ Pashazāde.

The narrative deeply scrutinizes the role of the sultans and their administrative policies. It highlights Osman’s emergence as a charismatic leader in the Bithynian frontier following the Battle of Bapheus and delves into the decision-making processes of the Ottoman government. İnalcık also addresses the Islamization of state laws under Suleyman the Lawgiver and clarifies the vital, yet complex, position of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate under Ottoman rule.

Furthermore, The Ottoman Empire traces the broader Islamization of the Turks and the specific history of Islam in Asia Minor. İnalcık masterfully details the rebuilding of conquered Constantinople, the transformation of the Genoese enclave of Galata into an Ottoman district, and the crucial economic and financial roles played by the Sultan’s Greek subjects. Finally, the work pinpoints exactly how and when the Ottomans established absolute control over the Straits and the lucrative Black Sea trade traffic.