Osman’s Dream: the History of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Mythology
Since so much of historical writing today is dominated by left-wing writers with ideological agendas, much of history today reads more like a political manifesto rather than a narrative of historical research. That is why Caroline Finkel’s Osman’s Dream, The History of the Ottoman Empire, is such a revelation.
The Ottoman Empire, which served as a bridge between the Medeival Arab and Turk civilizations, and the Middle East we have today. This is a rich history that not only is important but rarely touched with such thorough scholarship. Through exhaustive research and content that reaches a robust 600 pages, Finkel’s lays out the facts and actually asks the reader to form their own conclusion. The author packs Osman’s dreams with over 1,800 notes supporting her story. She also keeps a focus on the Sultans, Viziers, Aghas, and other rulers, in other words those who had the opportunity to influence events.
The Osman’s dream of the title of the book was meant to convey the mythology that Ottomans employed to legitimize their hold on power. “First communicated in later 15th Century, a century and a half after Osman’s death in about 1323, this dream became one of the founding myths of the empire, conjuring up a sense of temporal and divine authority and justifying the visible success of Osman and his descendants at the expense of their competitors.” Does Finkel use this as a sample that other governments use to hold their power. She does not. Osman’s dream only applies to the Ottoman Empire. What are Finkel’s conclusions about the place of the Ottomans in history? The author provides a few points but nothing overarching meant to serve as a vehicle upon which the facts are bent to express a specific view. The reader is meant to assimilate the facts as stated by Finkel, and draw their own conclusions.
Does the Ottoman Empire serve as a successor to the caliphate that current Islamists yearn? Was the movement from Empire to Republic possibly serve as path for other governments? The point of this book is to not answer the questions but rather to provide the material for the debate. Many historians today are not unique in using their studies to perpetuate their political or economic ideologies. Herodotus had an agenda when he inflated Persian numbers. But it is worth consideration that Finkel’s approach has a great deal of merit.