The Ottoman Turks, a displaced people forced into northwestern Asia Minor in the 13th century by invading Mongols, founded one of the largest empires in world history. Their strategic geographic position, military conquests, and visionary leaders all contributed to the development of the Ottoman regime as a formidable force. The Ottomans maintained control of their Eurasian and North African territories for nearly three centuries. Although the empire was officially abolished in 1923, it remains significant in modern politics and culture; the dynamics and complexity of the present-day Middle East and Balkans cannot be understood without an examination of the history and legacy of the Ottoman Empire." "The first encyclopedia on the Ottoman Empire available in English, Encyclopedia ofthe Ottoman Empire is the collaborative effort of 90 experts who contributed more than 400 A-to-Z entries that focus on major events, personalities, institutions, and terms. Further readings, approximately 85 black-and-white photographs and maps, cross-references, a chronology, glossary, bibliography, and an index complement the text and give readers an in-depth understanding of the history of the Ottoman Empire.