Exploring Turkey’s Beautiful Gemstones
Blue Chalcedony, Agate, and Tourmaline
Turkey is known for its rich natural resources, and one of the country's greatest treasures is its variety of stunning...
Tracking Down Turkey’s Rarest and Most Fascinating Gemstones
The Lasting Charm of Gemstones in Turkey
For more than 5,000 years, gemstones have been treasured in Turkish culture—not just for their beauty, but for...
The Long Journey to the Han
We kept asking, "How much further to the han?" but the answers were never clear. After ten more minutes, we continued walking. Half an...
Rough Experiences in the Mountains
A Hard Journey Begins
Although it was a relief to escape the sickness of Berat, the road ahead offered no excitement. The path was narrow,...
The Deceptive Guide
A soldier who worked at the Governor’s residence was sure there was a han (a resting place) about four or five hours away. However,...
Unrest in the Palace
As tensions escalated within the Council of State, the Sultan’s Chief Bodyguard and Superintendent of the Usher attempted to calm the agitated members. However,...
Sultan Suleyman’s Military Campaigns
In 1544, Sultan Suleyman embarked on a military campaign to the West, returning with substantial booty along with an annual tax revenue of thirty...
The Wealth of Ottoman Viziers
During the reign of Suleyman the Magnificent, it became evident that Ottoman viziers were affluent individuals. Makbul Ibrahim Pasha, one of Suleyman’s most esteemed...
Constantinople grew and flourished in consequence
Constantinople’s rulers still saw the riches of worlds flow into their hands, and Constantinople grew and flourished in consequence. The supreme urban achievement in...
Theodosius II surrounded
Emperors kept Constantinople at the center of imperial ambition for I,6OO years. In the fifth century, Theodosius II surrounded it with walls worthy of...
