The Ottoman State: Factors of Construction and Causes of Collapse

Author: Issa Al-Hassan

In his book, the author points out that some historians believe that the history of the Ottoman Empire, written by European historians, used methods of slander, distortion, and questioning of the Ottomans' service to faith and Islam. These historians also believe that most Arab historians, with their various affiliations and orientations—nationalist and secular—as well as Turkish historians influenced by secularism, followed this false approach.

According to Al-Hassan, this stance towards Ottoman history, on the part of European historians, arose due to their being affected by the extensive conquests achieved by the Ottomans, especially after the fall of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, "Constantinople," which the Ottomans transformed into a land of Islam and named "Islam bol" (meaning "city of Islam"). The souls of Europeans were thus affected by a tendency of envy, resentment, and inherited bitterness against Islam, and these grudges were reflected in their words, actions, and writings.

The Ottomans attempted to continue their advance to annex Rome to the Islamic State and to pursue jihad until they penetrated central Europe and reached Andalusia to rescue the Muslims there. Europe lived in fear, terror, and panic, and the hearts of Europeans did not rest until the death of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. [Translated].