THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE: ENDURING INFLUENCES

                      THE INFLUENCE OF THE OTTOMAN TURKS ON THE MIDDLE EAST



    The existence and subsequent collapse of the Ottoman Empire has had two distinct types of enduring influences upon the Middle East - one because of its longevity and geographically extensive nature, and the second as a direct result of the empire's dissolution.

    The culture of any civilization or empire which endures for as many centuries as the Ottoman Empire had leaves indelible cultural marks on the generations which survive its collapse.

    The opposite ends of the cultural spectrum- the great buildings and the day-to-day domestic traditions- are the aspects which survive a defunct empire. Such has been the legacy of the Ottoman Empire. Founded in the 13th century, it expanded to seamlessly encompass most of the lands that bordered the southern and eastern half of the Mediterranean Sea and southeast Europe, then waned until it finally dissolved after World War I. The architecture and the domestic arts survived.

    Ottoman cities were designed for trade.

    Trade rapidly leads to a spread of cultural ideas through the export of architectural styles, new foods, social institutions, domestic arts, etc. The Ottomans borrowed architectural ideas from the Islamic and the Christian worlds. New forms developed as a result, such as are seen in the domed mosques with minarets. The Christian Byzantine tradition was also adopted and held dear by the empire. The Hagia Sophia in Turkey is a wonderful example of Ottoman adoption of Byzantine architecture. It stands as an artistic, a cultural, and an architectural testament in Istanbul, Turkey.

    The eating habits of the residents of former Ottoman territories are traditionally much the same today as they were during the empire. Both breakfast and lunch are light meals of fresh food, while dinner is considered the important meal of the day and consists of a much more extensive menu. Tea is still widely consumed.

    The language of the nations of the former empire, with a few exceptions, is still mainly Arabic.

    Education had always been an important part of the Ottoman Empire and was free to the young. Today in Turkey, a former Ottoman land, education is still completely free through the age of seventeen.

    Now, as then, the religion of the Middle East is mostly Islam. Many countries of former Ottoman ancestry still rely on Muslim religious law and Islamic civil law.

    Carpet making in the Ottoman Empire was far more than a simple utilitarian process. The peoples raised it to an art form with rugs made from silk or wool and ornately dyed and decorated with stylized Islamic designs and natural scenes. These "Persian" carpets are still produced in abundance and are among the most sought after household items in the world today.

    While in power, the Ottoman Empire acted as a militarily unifying force among its conquered lands and as a bridge to selectively separate western colonial rule from its empire. Diverse peoples were, as with the defunct U.S.S.R., forced to live in peace' with one another whether they liked it or not. And, as with Russia once the empire collapsed, there were lands which quickly vied for independence and sovereignty. Fermenting nationalist sentiments came to the fore and swept over former Ottoman territories after the end of the empire. New countries had to create their own identities. A battle was started by Egypt and Syria against colonial powers, like England and France.

    Even today, problems and conflicts between Middle Eastern countries and western powers such as the United States can be directly traced to the Arab nationalism that surfaced after the void created by the fall of the Ottoman Empire.