I have compiled the glossary below to the best of my ability. I am neither Muslim nor Arabic speaking so please forgive me for any mistakes I may have made, and let me know if you have suggestions for improvements.

Agha (or Aga) - a person of high social rank in the Ottoman Empire, either in the military, the administration or in the Imperial Harem in which case they were eunuchs. The highest ranking Agha in the harem was the Kizlar Agha, or the Chief Black Eunuch, who held one of the most important posts in the Empire! Another important eunuch was the Kapi Agha, Master of the Privy Chambers.

Alhamdulillah - means "praise be to God", or simply "thank God". It is Arabic and the term has its roots in the Qur'an. Even so, Jews and Christians in the Middle East also often use this expression. Apparently, the root of three consonants, H, M, D (meaning praise), are to be found in names like Muhammed, Mahmoud and Hamid. Once again, I feel that I should emphasise that I do not speak Arabic so please don't hesitate to correct any mistakes I may have made, and my apologies in advance if so be the case.

Baklava - is a favourite Turkish desert made of fine layers of phylo dough - the more the better - chopped nuts, butter, syrup and honey. Actually, it's popular in the whole of the Levant. The version known today is thought to have been developed in the Sultan's kitchens at Topkapi Palace in Constantinople, a recipe has been found in kitchen notebooks which dates back to 1473. On the 15th of each Ramadan, the Sultan would serve baklava to the Jannisaries.

Balkans - or the Balkan peninsula is a geographical area in southeastern Europe. At the end of the 19th century, it was synonymous with the European provinces of the Ottoman Empire at that time, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bosnia, but not Greece.

Brougham - A popular horse-drawn carriage in the 19th century, light with two doors and generally sitting two persons. It had four wheels that could take sharp turns. A novelty of the model was the glazed front window so the passengers could see forward.

Caliph - The Caliphate of the Ottoman Empire in 1876 refers to the religious authority held by the Sultan as the Caliph, the spiritual leader of the Sunni Muslim community, and the successor to the Prophet Muhammad. The Caliph wielded significant influence over Sunni Muslims worldwide, with the Ottoman Empire being considered the center of the Sunni Islamic world.

Dervish - refers to the members of a Sufi order or, more generally, to religious persons who have chosen a life in poverty. Dervishes congregate around a grand master and meet for spiritual sessions in zawlyas or tekkes, i.e. Sufi monasteries.

Effendi - a title meaning Lord, or Master. Effendim means "my master" but can substitute for "excuse me" (real Arabic speakers, please correct me if I am wrong).

Eastern Question - Key aspects:

Ottoman decline: The Empire faced internal struggles, military defeats, rising nationalism among its subject peoples, and significant economic and financial challenges.

Russian ambitions: Russia sought to expand its influence in the Balkans and gain access to the Mediterranean through the Turkish Straits, often using the Ottoman Empire's economic vulnerabilities to its advantage.

Balkan nationalism: The rise of nationalist movements in the Balkans, such as those in Greece, Serbia, and Bulgaria, led to uprisings and wars against Ottoman rule, further weakening the empire's political and economic stability.

European intervention: The Great Powers intervened in Ottoman affairs, sometimes supporting the empire's integrity and other times backing nationalist movements, based on their own political and economic interests.

Crimean War: The Crimean War (1853-1856) was fought between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, Britain, and Sardinia, highlighting the complex alliances and rivalries among the Great Powers and the importance of economic factors in shaping these relationships.

Economics and finance: Challenges included substantial foreign debt, capitulations granted to foreign powers, trade imbalances, and the establishment of the Ottoman Public Debt Administration. These factors increased the involvement of European powers in the Empire's affairs, as they sought to expand their economic interests and exert influence over the region.

Fetwa (or fatwa) - an answer based on sharia law to a question posed by an individual, a government or anyone else in muslim society. The fetva is given by a person who is recognised as a qualified jurist. The fetva which, according to the canons of the Sacred Law, blessed the deposition of Sultan Abdelaziz, was given by the Sheikh ul Islam who was the highest spiritual dignitary of the Empire. Even if the fetva is always non-binding it was, and still is to this day, a powerful political instrument.

Giaour - a term in Arabic which refers to all those who are not Muslim, especially Christians. It translates to unbeliever. In the Ottoman Empire it was, among other things, used for administrative reasons to refer to Christians, for example in tax registers. Mostly, it was not intended as an insult.

Grand Vizier - equivalent of Prime Minister. The Sultan was supposed to conduct all affairs of state through the Grand Vizier but in actuality, the Kizlar Agha, the Kapi Agha or his mother often wielded greater influence on the Sultan.

Habibi - an Arabic word which literally means "my love" but can also mean "my dear", "my darling" or "beloved. Generally, it is used as a masculine singular (although it is neutral singular). Habibti or habiba is used as the feminine singular. I am not an Arabic speaker so I stand to be corrected and apologise in advance if I got this wrong.

Hadith - The Qu'ran and the hadith are the two primary sources in Islam. The Qu'ran is the direct word of God as relayed to the prophet Muhammad. Collections of hadith record the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, his words and actions - you might call it his biography. His teachings are called Sunna, they are recorded in texts called hadith. Without these teachings, the Qu'ran, which is very general, does not make sense. It instructs Muslims to pray, for example, but hadith explains how it should be done; hadith provides context.

Hamal - was a porter or carrier, it was a trade with its own union. The hamal would carry produce on his back across the city, from Galata up the steep hill to Pera or between the "han", the different warehouses in Stamboul. The Armenian hamal were considered to be the strongest.

Hookah - A water pipe, also called a "narghile" in Turkish. It wasn't used to smoke hashish, as is often believed, but different flavours of tobacco. In the 16th century it came to Turkey from India and quickly became very popular. Of course, smoking with the Sultan was thought to be the highest honour. The water pipes could be real works of art. The "shisha" is the tobacco.

Jannisaries - Ottoman soldiers, originally an elite corps of slaves made up of kidnapped Christian boys who were converted to Islam. It was famed for internal cohesion cemented by strict discipline and order. Ferocious guys.

Lokum - also known as "Turkish delight", are based on a gel made of starch and sugar. The gel holds dates and chopped nuts, pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts. It's perfumed with rosewater, bergamot orange, or lemon, dusted with icing sugar, and cut and served in cubes.

Maslaha - placing the public's interest before personal interest in regards to deciding an issue.

Meddah - is a traditional Turkish storyteller popular in the Ottoman Empire. The meddah would tell and perform stories, playing all the characters and often end with the moral of the tale. They were mostly travelling artists who moved from town to town. Mostly, they would find their audiences in coffee houses, but the best ones would also perform at the palace.

Minaret - is a slender tower, often connected to a mosque and fitted with a balcony from which the muezzin calls believers to prayer five times per day.

Muezzin - is an official of the mosque who calls to believers to prayer. Historically, he was chosen for his good character and beautiful voice but was more of a caretaker of the mosque than a cleric. In Ottoman times, the muezzin would have called to prayer from the top of the minaret to be heard as far as possible. Five times a day he would climb the minaret, face Mecca and recite the Adhan, the Islamic call to prayer. Today loudspeakers are used

Narghile - A water pipe, also called a "hookah". It wasn't used to smoke hashish, as is often believed, but different flavours of tobacco. In the 16th century it came to Turkey from India and quickly became very popular. Of course, smoking with the Sultan was thought to be the highest honour. The water pipes could be real works of art. The "shisha" is the tobacco.

Odalisque - was a chambermaid in the Sultan's household. She was not a concubine but a maid ranked at the bottom of the very rigid social harem hierarchy. They were slaves who had come to the palace at a young age to be trained. If she was beautiful and had talents for singing and dancing she might be allowed to serve the Sultan sexually. Typically she would serve the women of the harem, not the men and she would wear androgynous robes similar to those worn by male pages.

Raki - the Turkish national drink similar to pastis and ouzo. Mostly, it's produced with grapes and often anise-flavoured. It's served with water on the side or mixed in water - it then turns milky-white. That's why raki is popularly known as "lion's milk". During the more liberal 19th century when the empire was subjected to Western influence, Sultans allowed wine and raki to be served in specific restaurants and at the palace.

Ramadan - the 9th month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast during daylight hours.

Shahaadah - or Shahadah - which means "testimony" or "witness" is the first of the five pillars of Islam which make up the most important of Muslim practices. The shahaadah is a profession of faith which states the two basic Muslim beliefs: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah. It must be stated at least once, with inner conviction, in a Muslim's life. It is also included in the muezzin's call to prayer, in the daily ritual prayer ("salat"), and it is recited in the moments before death.

The five pillars of islam are: the shahaadah, "salat" (daily prayer five times a day), "zakat" (paying alms to the needy and poor), "sawm" (fasting during the month of ramadan), and "hadj" (pilgrimage to Mecca). Muslims believe that faith must be put into action and actively practiced to be meaningful.

Shisha - the tobacco used in water pipes.

Softa - a group of religious students, often poor of rural background, that studied within the madrasa religious education system of the Ottoman Empire. Strongly opposed to modernisation, excluded from power, ignorant and frustrated.

Sufism - is a a form of mysticism and a way of approaching Islam, although it includes elements of Eastern Christianity, Hinduism and Budhism. Sufis believe that there is a path man can travel to become perfect and unite with God already in this life. In traditional Islam, God is the creator of mankind and the two can never unite.

The Sufi ideal is to be free from ambition, pride, greed, and from blind obedience to custom or hierarchy.

Some say that Prophet Muhammed was the first Sufi. In the middle ages, Sufis organised themselves in orders, each of which was led by an Islamic scolar. Even so, they are not united to any religious dogma, they don't use a regular place for worship, they don't have sacred places or monasteries. They don't even refer to themselves as Sufi, they prefer to say "people like us".

One of the most important orders in the Ottoman Empire was the Mevlevi because it was the Mevlevi Sheik who girded every new Ottoman Sultan with the sword of Osman. Another order, the Mawlawīs, are famous for their dancing ritual and better known as whirling dervishes.

Ulema - religious scholars who act as advisors to the Sultan. They define doctrine and right practice within Islam and their influence throughout Muslim history has been very important. The highest spiritual dignitary of the Empire was the Sheikh ul Islam.